“Whom having not seen, ye love;
in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory…” (1 Peter
1:8 KJV)
Peter’s words must have brought some comfort and
encouragement to the early Gentile Christians.
These Christians were facing extreme persecution under the Roman
government led by Emperor Nero. This
persecution hasn’t ended, it continues on today.
The following passages from Hebrews should be encouraging to
every Christian, but especially encouraging to those enduring unimaginable
hardship due to the name of Jesus.
13 These all died in
faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and
were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such
things declare plainly that they seek a country.15 And truly, if they had
been mindful of that country from whence they came out , they might have had
opportunity to have returned . 16 But now they desire a
better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11: 13-16
KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we
also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God. 3 For consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and
faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet
resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
(Hebrews 12:1-4 KJV)
Currently throughout the world there are many countries
where to be a Christian is a death sentence or a guarantee to lose home, employment,
family, and so much more. In the face of
all this—men, women, and children demonstrate great faith in their Savior—Jesus
Christ.
At this point, in America we have it fairly easy—we can
worship freely and without fear. How has
that affected our faith? Do we have the
faith that would sustain us, even if that freedom was taken away? Some day, we may find ourselves in a very
similar situation to our brothers and sisters in Christ in places like North
Korea and China to name two.
I believe we can learn much from our Christian brothers and
sisters in the persecuted church. They know
what it means to rejoice in the face of things that are not joyful. Learn about
them and from them. Remember to pray for
those who are suffering all because they refuse to turn from Jesus.
What about us… What
would Peter say to us, to encourage us in our Christian walk? Do we love and believe in Jesus? Do we rejoice with joy unspeakable? May we be found faithful!
Dear Father, we love You and believe in You, even though we
don’t see You. Open our eyes and hearts
to Your presence among us. It is because
of You that we can rejoice—rejoice in all things and glory in Your name. We lift up to You our brothers and sisters in
Christ, who can’t worship freely but worship knowing that it may cost them
their lives; grant them Your peace and love and protection. Lord, prepare us who currently worship in safety
and freedom to one day lose that freedom—strengthen us to stand strong in our
faith, counting the cost worth it. In
Jesus’ name. Amen.
