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Embracing Trials

    The apostle Paul is one of the most admired characters in the Bible. He is a remarkable model of the life of faith that we are called to. But while He was on earth, He went through many trials and persecution despite his incredible faith and righteousness. We are told that the same applies to us. We will suffer for Jesus Christ if we are living a righteous lifestyle. How will you handle it?

    The trick is to be able to praise God in the storms of life. Even when things look bleakest, to be able to stand and say, "God is good" is the true test of our faith in Him. We have to be able to recognize that bad things that happen to us are a direct result of our enemy who wishes to stop us. The more righteous of a lifestyle we are living, the more we have a target on our backs. But remember that it is all worth it in the end. 

    When times of persecution come, will you be able to stand firm like Paul and Silas when they were thrown into jail? Instead of weeping and cursing God, they praised Him from their jail cells. They prayed and sang for the whole prison to hear. Then, Jesus miraculously caused all the cells to be open. Instead of causing mass pandemonium, the situation caused the jailer to become born again. We have to have faith in those situations that God will use them for our good and the good of those around us. Who of us are willing to go into those dark places and bring them Jesus? Who will suffer for His name? It's not for someone else to take care of, but all of us who are true followers of Christ. Will you answer the call? 

2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (ESV)

Acts 16:25-34 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the nightthe jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. (NIV)

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