Persecution
by Sal Huckel
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Dear friends do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12).
This letter, written to scattered exiles in Asia Minor, makes no bones about the suffering and persecution we should expect as Christians. We are exhorted not to be ashamed of our walk as Christians and to know that we will suffer for it – but suffering for being a Christian is different to suffering from the consequences of sinning.
Are we suffering any more in our present times than the faithful who have gone before us? We might think so, but going back to the context here and the events that lay ahead of those Peter addressed (and ahead of Peter himself), we might find some humility and grounding. Indeed, many suffer persecution as Christians. There are 52 countries worldwide where it is illegal to own a Bible. Some of us have friends who risked everything to leave a country due to persecution for their Christian faith. How persecuted are we, again?
We may be struggling with politics that we feel restrict our religious freedom and laws we believe impinge on our biblical beliefs and how we perceive we ought to be allowed to practise our faith. If we need to be reminded of our freedom, we could count the Bibles on our shelves or the number of devices we can use to access myriad Bible translations, online concordances, devotions, sermons and worship services from around the world – all without restriction.
May we pray for the persecuted and rejoice at our own freedom while standing on the promises we have of comfort from the Lord in times of trial and persecution. May we use our freedoms to immerse ourselves in his word. And may these daily bite-size snacks of Scripture spark an appetite for feasting and banqueting on his word, drawing us into a deeper and deeper relationship with God.
Lord, I pray for the persecuted church worldwide. Bring hope, perseverance and the promise of eternal life with you to these faithful servants and children of God. May I never take my freedoms for granted, and may I keep them in perspective. Give me an appetite and passion for your word that begins to honour the privilege I have to access it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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