Persecution
What was happening
back in New Testament times is not terribly different from what is still
happening in some parts of the world today.
Here in the United States we can easily forget that real persecution
happens each day because of faith. And
like Saul, certain powers may exert influence and try to stamp out faith in
Jesus, yet for all their stamping, they simply spread embers upon dry
ground.
The following is an
excerpt from a Voice of the Martyrs update:
Chinese Pastor Zhang Rongliang, reports that the seven years
and six months he spent in prison were a fruitful time of ministry. “I am happy that you and others tried to
arrange for my release, but in one way, I am happy that you failed. You almost made a big mistake. If you had been successful, there would be no
church in that prison today.”
Chinese Christians are not
allowed to visit prisons or start prison outreach ministries, so Zhang
ministered to everyone he could while in prison—prisoners, prison guards and
officials he could never have met outside prison. Over 5,000 men lived in prison with Zhang,
and many of them were able to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
Zhang, a founder of one of
china’s largest churches with over ten million members, has endured constant
persecution for his ministry in China.
Zhang has been imprisoned five times and spent about a fourth of his
life in prison. “These new converts were
the only way that I could forget the suffering I was going through in prison.”[1]
The
type of persecution you or I may be faced with is unlikely to match that of
Pastor Zhang. However, our responses can
all be unified by pursuing the common goal of knowing God and making Him
known. Instead of stewing over, or focusing
on the hardship, may we learn to focus on the good things God is doing in us,
through us, and in and through others.
Being
thrust out of, or into new circumstances may in reality be the presentation of
new opportunities to share the gospel. Yes, there will be some suffering, (that
is part of living anyway!) What matters
most is the One who most loves and desires goodness and truth for all
people. Let us not forget what a privilege it is to walk in, and share
that truth.
Read and Pray: John
15:18-21, Matthew 13:18-23, 2 Timothy 3:12
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