Tag Archives: Persecution

Staying Faithful

Posted on by under Scripture

Journal 2006

To the church at Philadelphia, Jesus said,

I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:8 NASB)

It’s easy to be faithful on paper and in private. But how will I do if persecution arises? If I have to testify before unbelievers who are mocking me? I live such a small, sheltered, cushy life. I have a godly heritage; we own two cars; my husband has a job. It’s easy to profess Christ when there’s a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and a happy church to attend. I have never experienced persecution. Never lived in a war zone. Never suffered a broken bone or the heartache of a wayward child. Never been through divorce or the death of a close loved one. Never been through a natural disaster, been forced to do what I don’t want to do, not faced poverty or the temptation of riches; I live in a safe neighborhood. Never lived alone. I’m surrounded by people who love me and whom I love. No wonder I love Jesus! How will I respond in the hour of trial?

Lord, keep me faithful to the end.

A 2024 Update. Interesting that I forgot to mention my three miscarriages. I guess that’s the power of healing. And since I wrote this, I’ve grieved the loss of both my parents. I’ve also been through the fire of hatred, lies, and targeted anger from clients in the past few years. Does that count? I may be a slow learner, but today I’m at peace.

How Would I respond?

Posted on by under Choices, God, Scripture

From my 2016 Journal.

As I read Acts 5:16-6:15, I note a progression of violence, stemming from the Pharisees’ sin of unbelief, jealousy, and hard hearts. And the apostles’ responses are astonishing.

  • The apostles are imprisoned.
    • An angel frees them, and they return to preaching.
  • Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin, beaten and let go.
    • They continue preaching.
  • Stephen is arrested, preaches to his audience, and is stoned.
    • His last words are, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

Obviously, I wasn’t in their shoes, driven by God’s command and with the Holy Spirit propelling me forward, but . . . if I were in their situation, my first response would most likely have been fear, hiding, and kowtowing to the Pharisees’ bullying to avoid further pain. Flogging can be rather incapacitating, don’t you think! I wonder if God healed them instantly? Or did they go through a month of recovery with no antibiotics and their wounds miraculously not becoming infected?

In the flesh, I would have struggled for being unjustly treated. I would have cried unfair and prayed for justice, a staying of the abusers’ hands, a change to my circumstances . . .

Instead, they rejoiced! Extremely counter-intuitive!

I could claim I, too, would have responded in a godly way, but I’ve never been put to the test like this. God prepared the Apostles for this hour. I can trust God to prepare me as well for anything I must endure.

P.S. In Acts 7, Stephen boldly told the Sanhedrin to their faces that they were stiff-necked, stubborn murderers. When is it appropriate to call someone out for their sin? Obviously, the Holy Spirit guided his words, but I cannot even begin to imagine talking that way—to anyone! It’s not my temperament or personality. I’d be asking them all, “What are you feeling? How does it feel to hear me preaching? Why are you jealous?” I guess that’s why God didn’t call me to be a prophet!