"Gospel persecution"
"When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. (Mark 13:9 NLT)
Jesus promised that his followers would be persecuted. But he encouraged them to see persecution from a unique perspective. When they faced persecution they were to use the opportunity to tell people about him.
They would be brought before governors & kings, people that they wouldn't normally get to share the gospel with. So the persecution would actually function as an open door for the gospel. What a perspective! And they used this opportunity when they got it.
Peter & John were frequently dragged before authorities when it came to their witness for Christ, as well as Paul. The book of Acts is full of accounts of how persecution opened the door for the gospel.
And this is always true: "What is meant to stamp out the flame of the gospel, often times is used by God to burn it hotter." Persecution in the book of Acts was used by God to spread the gospel by scattering the church to go to places they wouldn't normally go on their own.
Do we really face persecution? Many Christians around the world are persecuted regularly for their love of Jesus & sharing of him. We should pray for them to stand strong & use the opportunity to spread the gospel. And a time is coming & may already be here where we must use our opportunities we have to share the gospel, even in the face of persecution.
And, no matter the circumstance in our lives, we must keep the gospel primary realizing that in difficulty, we have an opportunity to share that we might not usually have.
What difficulty in our lives is actually an open door to share Jesus with others?
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