Suffering for our Faith
READ: 1 Peter 4:12-17; 5:6-11
Have you ever been in a place where when you bowed your head to pray before a meal, and heard others snickering at you? Have you ever expressed a belief in Creation, a world-wide flood, or the humanity of an unborn child only to be accused of close-mindedness, stupidity, or other hurtful words? Have you ever shared the love of Christ with another only to have the loved turned down or pushed away?
Why must we suffer for our faith? That is a question that many of us have asked ourselves at some time in our lives. God tells us in the Bible that when we are ridiculed for our faith, we are actually being blessed. That is very true. When you think about it, aren’t those times the perfect opportunities to spread God’s love to an unbeliever?
We should feel privileged when we are persecuted for our faith because it tells us that someone must have noticed that we believe in God by our words and actions.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: How is persecution a blessing from God? Why would God bless us by having others ridicule us? Try to come up with a comment or two that Paul might have used to open a discussion.
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Thank God for all the times you have been persecuted because of your faith. Ask God for the strength to confront those who persecute you with God’s Word.