“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them.” – Mark 13:9
Does this describe your life? Probably not if you live in the Western world. If it doesn’t describe you, give thanks for the relative peace, comfort, and freedom you enjoy to worship God. It’s very appropriate to be thankful for that because it isn’t the norm throughout the history of the world. After giving thanks, take time to reflect. What if these words of Jesus did suddenly describe your life? Are you prepared to endure it? Are you prepared to bear witness to Jesus when doing so is costly?
Jesus spoke these words to His immediate disciples and they certainly experienced all these things. However, Scripture is clear that these things may come to describe the life of any Christian at any time. We celebrate the eventual, ultimate triumph of King Jesus over every enemy but must recognize the repeated biblical warnings about persecution that will occur before that triumph happens. Are you ready for it? Really?
Across 20 centuries, many Christians have had this opportunity to bear witness to Jesus through persecution. Sadly, many who failed the test when it came, preferring comfort, safety, and peace over faithfully bearing witness to their Savior Who died for them. In general, those who use their persecution to God’s glory are those who were already walking closely with Jesus. They are also those spiritually prepared to pay a cost for their faith, who are unsurprised when persecution comes to them. Are you prepared to pay the price if necessary? Do you believe it’s possible? Do you have enough gratitude for your salvation? Are you walking closely enough with Jesus to withstand fear, temptation, and hardship? What should you be doing to walk more closely?
Are you ready to #FollowJesus even in hard times?