Today I am sharing with you a free devotional I get via email through Ephesians Four Ministries. I thought it was a bit moving and said a lot about our love for others amidst persecution.
Persecution is going to happen, but when it does, how will you and I respond?
Enjoy the article and leave your thoughts in the comments below.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.” – Matthew 5:11
Recently, a friend told a true story about one of his closest friends who experienced great suffering for the soul of his persecutor. This man worked on a cargo ship. His boss was the captain. This friend was a committed Christian who shared his faith with others and was a good worker. One day the friend led the sea captain’s girlfriend to Christ. The sea captain already hated and ridiculed the Christian worker because of his faith in Christ. When his girlfriend came to Christ, she stopped sleeping with the captain. The captain blamed the Christian man for the change in his girlfriend. One day he entered the restaurant where the Christian man was having lunch. He walked over to his table and began hurling obscenities and began beating him. The Christian man simply tried to defend himself but did not fight back. The captain kept beating him until eventually the man lay on the floor bleeding.
Two men entered the restaurant and saw what was taking place. They jumped the sea captain and took him outside and began beating him. The sea captain was beaten so badly that he needed immediate medical attention. The Christian worker saw the condition of the sea captain, came to his aid, and began helping him. The sea captain was so moved that this man could do this after he had literally beaten him bloody that he began to weep, not understanding what could move a man to have such love in the face of being beaten. The sea captain accepted Jesus at that moment.The Bible tells us that while we were yet sinners Christ came and paid our penalty so that we might live eternally. Many in the workplace have never known the love of Christ. You might be the only one they ever meet who can introduce them to this love. Ask God to show you how to love the unlovable in your workplace today.
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I stand convicted…I am still so infantile a Christian that I occasionally complain to Eric about the fact that he is is surrounded by people who ridicule him for his faith. Oh Father in Heaven, please help me to remember that Eric is exactly where You want him to be, doing exactly what You have called him to do! And help me, Father, to be the loving, supportive, God-glorifying wife he needs!
I’ve often wondered how I would respond to such persecution. I pray I would glorify God and stand as a testimony and witness to the faithfulness and love of God in Christ Jesus.
Jonathan, you’re not alone…I worry that I wouldn’t be as faithful and humble a witness as Eric is. That’s probably become one of my worst fears, actually. I have such a terrible temper and I do not like being taken advantage of or insulted. Old programming from a lifetime of pagan egotism, coupled with a typical artist’s pathological fear of being criticized.
Eric is quick to describe the true Christian life as being a “doormat to the glory of God.”
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 10:19-20 not to be anxious about how you will behave in those moments because, if you trust in Him, He will not only show you how to behave He will also give you the strength to do so in that moment. I just need to keep reminding myself of this!
I haven’t looked up the passage, but Peter also stats that suffering is part of what Christians are called to.
Since I’m a trained and self-competent martial artist, I am quick to jump on the offense when necessary.