Persecutions Shall Come When We Follow Christ

The answer to this question is, people who are against our Lord Jesus! Peter tells us to neither be afraid nor troubled if we “suffer for righteousness' sake” (v. 14). Peter was quite familiar with such persecutions because at one time, he himself along with fellow apostles were beaten and “commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:40). Then, he was also thrown in prison by Herod (Acts 12:4). Jesus warns that the world will hate us if we love Him (Jn 15:18). He said that people “shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely” (Mt 5:11), for His sake!

However, the apostles responded with “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (v. 41). Their remedy for fear was through prayers; “that with all boldness they may speak thy word” (Acts 4:29). David prayed that he “will not be afraid of ten thousands of people” (Ps 3:6). We need to “fear God” (Ecc 12:13), and obey Him “rather than men” (Acts 5:29). While heathens profane the name of the Lord (Eze 36:21), bible-believing Christians are called to exalt His name (Acts 4:12). We need to “be ready always to give an answer” (v. 15), of the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), that we have in Jesus!

He alone is the Saviour (Jn 14:6), Who “died for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3), and “rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41). He is coming again (Rev 1:7), to judge the “ungodly” (2 Pet 3:7)! Surely, “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse” (2 Tim 3:13), “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Mt 24:12). Therefore, we need to get busy sharing the gospel to others (Mk 16:15), with the awareness that our speech should always be “with grace, seasoned with salt” (Col 4:6). Let us rejoice and continue to “live godly in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:12), even though we may suffer persecution! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera