Persecution has always existed for the Lord’s people.  We are not of this world; therefore the world has no love for us or use for us.  Christ, Himself said in John 15:18, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”  The Apostle John later wrote in 1 John 3:13, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”  It is no surprise that the world’s hatred of us often becomes violent. 

In Revelation 2:10, the Lord said to the church in Smyrna, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”  To tell His people they shall have tribulation for ten days shows us the Lord is over all our situations and will not allow us to endure more than we can handle in His power…even unto death.  Let’s look at a couple of verses that teach us about what we may be called upon to endure by a world that hates our loving savior.

  • 2 Timothy 3:11-12, “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
  • Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” 

So, according to what the scriptures tell us, we should not be surprised if we face severe persecution.  Rather, we should count it an honor to suffer for the name of Christ.  In the early church, the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin council because of their open testimony of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We read in Acts 5:40-41, “…and when they had called the apostles, AND BEATEN THEM, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”  These men counted it all joy to be able to suffer for the name and cause of Christ. 

According to the website of Global Christian Relief, “Reports show that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. Thousands of Christians face persecution every day, whether through discrimination, violence, imprisonment, or even death. This affects believers in countries like North Korea, where practicing Christianity can result in severe punishment, and in places like the Middle East, where anti-Christian persecution is rampant.”

When Saul (later named Paul) was saved, the Lord had this message for him, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16).  At this point, the Lord didn’t mention the great works Paul would do, or the great number of people he would reach, or how his writings would influence the whole world.  No, the Lord spoke of the honor of suffering for the name of the Lord.  Dear reader, may we learn and experience the honor of suffering for the Lord’s sake. 

We learn in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”  Indeed, our suffering from persecution can be PAINFUL, it can also be PERPLEXING, but it will always be PURPOSEFUL.  We read in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Dear reader, have you been called upon to suffer for the name of Christ?  Count it all joy!  Rejoice that the Lord has allowed you to suffer for His sake.  It is an honor that is not to be feared and not to be taken lightly.  (CC)  (691.2)