Acts 12
The accounts of the persecution of the
early church are both sad and inspiring.
Sadly in this reading we learn of the murder of James. Peter’s
imprisonment and release are both scary and exciting. But the end of the chapter (v. 24) is what is
inspiring! It says, “But the word of God
increased and multiplied.” Even in the
face of persecution.
Throughout the centuries God’s people
have been oppressed. Many Christians
have died violently for the faith, yet the Church has grown. The early Church Father, Tertullian, once
said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church as the church grew
facing danger.
While we often think of persecution and
martyrdom as things of the past, the truth is persecution of God’s people is
still present and more Christians have been martyred in the last 100 years than
the previous 1900 combined. Right now
there are reports of two pastors, one Iranian the other a U.S. American, who
are imprisoned in Iran for “blasphemy” which means they were sharing the
Gospel. Just yesterday there was a news
story of four missionaries who were arrested in Libya for distributing
Christian books. (www.persecution.org has even more
accounts of brothers and sisters who are suffering for the faith.)
St. Paul wrote, “[W]e have this treasure
[our salvation] in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to
God and not to us. We are afflicted in
every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted,
but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body
the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our
bodies. For we who live are always being
given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-11 ESV) Despite what the world may throw at us, God
is faithful and He is still bringing people to new life in Christ.
We are more than conquerors through the
victory that Jesus won for us. Sin and
death cannot hold us. People may be able
to harm the body, but we’ve been promised resurrected bodies. They cannot kill the soul, and the One who
can has declared His love and grace are for us through His Son our Savior
Jesus. We are free to be bold in Christ.
Lord, be with the persecuted and make me a
witness where I am. Amen.
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