I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ Acts 22:7
Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? Persecution was very real in the early church and continues today. Saul who was zealous for the Torah and Hebrew teaching and traditions found himself kicking against God Himself in the face of Jesus Christ. He thought he was working and doing great service for God when he had a life surrendering encounter with Jesus! Jesus asked him, “Why are you persecuting Me?”
Have you ever been persecuted by those you thought were on the same side? Fellow Christians? In this story Saul (soon to be Paul) was a Jew persecuting other Jews for their “Extreme Faith!”
Maybe you have been persecuted or misunderstood by others in your circles. I hear the Spirit whispering today, “Stay the course, don’t be discouraged, don’t be sidetracked.”
I have felt that way, more than once in my 42 years. People see me as a strong person in Spirit, but my journey didn’t start out that way. I’ve had to overcome fear and insecurities. I’ve had to overcome persecutions and misunderstandings.
If your in the middle of persecution right now I want to whisper in your ear, stay the course. Lay hold of your destiny and don’t let go. Don’t take off your breastplate of righteousness and stoop to the godless chatter of criticisms. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14 Stay the course my friend and never give up!
