Persecution and Martyrdom

When was the last time you stopped and thanked God for the fact that you live in a country where you are free to publicly and passionately worship Him wherever and whenever you please? We should always remain grateful for our freedom to gather together and praise and worship out Lord. Because that's certainly not the case on other parts of our world!

For instance, believers in China are forced to meet in secret rooms and attics to worship Jesus. They know the risk, but they are willing to pay the price. They gather with the knowledge that at any time someone could bust through the doors and kill them, or capture them for torture.

Believers in the Sudan face mass genocide at the hands of militant Muslims who kill for their own religious purposes.

In Columbia, Christians are forced underground to escape the brutality against them and their families.

Whatever the situation may be, we know that God has promised He will be with us. He has given us the ability to endure it, and we will receive a far greater reward than what this earth can offer.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heave, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

In the book of Acts we read about Stephen who became the first martyr for the gospel. The account reads of how when Stephen was being stoned to death he peered up in the sky and was granted the sight of Jesus standing at God's right hand (Acts 7:55). I believe this is proof that Jesus is with us, no matter what kind of persecution we face.

Whether it's the mocking and ridicule from our friends at school, or torture in a prison in India, Jesus is standing at God's right hand ready to receive our suffering. In fact, He already did. Jesus knows what it is like to endure persecution. He knows what it means to suffer, and He knows if we choose to follow Him, we too must endure persecution.

Join us this week as we take a close look at the Biblical concepts of persecution and martyrdom.

See you at The Refuge!