An Unstoppable Force

They went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.
–Acts 5:41

Yesterday, I shared two truths about persecution that every Christian needs to understand. First of all, persecution is inevitable, so expect it. We should not be surprised when there are consequences for following Jesus Christ. Second, persecution is painful, so endure it. Just as Jesus suffered, we can expect to suffer–but suffering is temporary.

Third, persecution is incremental, so understand it. In the book of Acts, the early Christians were not thrown to the lions immediately. They were admonished by the religious leaders. They were put in jail for a night. They were beaten. The persecution escalated until Christians were being killed. Today, many Christians around the world are already experiencing this level of persecution. Here in the United States, we might think we’re safe. But remember: Persecution is incremental. It doesn’t happen all at once. In our country, Christians are already labeled as hatemongers for proclaiming that Jesus is the only way to heaven and standing for biblical truth. Some Christians have had to fight for their rights in court. We need to understand what’s going on around us so we’re not caught off guard when persecution escalates.

Finally, persecution is profitable, so praise God for it. When God allows persecution to come, we can rejoice in it–not because we enjoy pain but because we know the pain is not without purpose. In James 1:2–3, James wrote, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James said we can be joyful in the midst of persecution. That doesn’t mean we’re giddy with happiness. Joy is the calm assurance that God is in control of everything happening in our lives and that He is using it for His great purpose. We see this joy in the early church. After the apostles were beaten and threatened, “they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And . . . they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:41–42). The early Christians were an unstoppable force. May you and I be as well.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Church in the Kettle,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.