Faith in the Face of Persecution

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 9:17 am Post subject: Faith in the Face of Persecution

Faith in the Face of Persecution

Scripture:

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they, crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not his sin to their charge: And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death. (Acts 7:55-60)

Behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are they that wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right to the tree of life and may enter in by the gates into the city.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel, to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and stock of David, the bright and morning star. And the spirit and the bride say: Come. And he that hears, let him say: Come. And he that thirsts, let him come. And he that will, let him take the water of life, freely.

He that gives testimony of these things, says: Surely, I come quickly: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20)

And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me. That they all may be one, as you, Father, in me, and I in you; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you have given me, I have given to them: that, they may be one, as we also are one. I in them, and you in me: that they may be made perfect in one: and the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them, as you have also loved me. Father, I will that where I am, they also whom you have given me may be with me: that they may see my glory which you have given me, because you have loved me before the creation of the world. Just Father, the world has not known you: but I have known you. And these have known that you have sent me. And I have made known your name to them and will make it known: that the love wherewith you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. (John 17:17-26)

Reflection:

To what test are we willing to place our faith? Stephen turned to his persecutors and prayed for them before succumbing to their violence. He placed his trust in the Lord and accepted what was to happen at the hands of those who assailed him knowing that his prayer would be answered that the Lord would receive the spirit of Stephen so that Stephen would be forever one in the body of Christ. Those who ponder such events might ask, how is it that God could allow persecutors to oppress or even take the life of those faithful to the Lord? How is it He could allow evil to have such power over the children of His creation. The answer is found in the same question as how God allows bad things to happen to good people? The answer is so that a greater good shall come.

In the moment we may see one tragedy or an injustice, but when we go beyond the moment, we may see many turns of events impacting many souls, perhaps just one or perhaps generations to come. In the moment, it may appear that evil dominates, but when the good are struck down, they become ever more powerful as the moments are pondered by those who witness, those who see and hear, and those who share the moment to the reaches of the cities and the generations.

In the stories of those who walk according to His Word, we see the power of faith. It is faith in Him which becomes strength for the soul to endure. It is faith which allows the oppressed to face a society where the currents flow away from the Lord and enables the faithful to swim against that current. Blessed are those who raise their voices to share His Word despite the many who surround them and who seek to silence those faithful to Him. Those who persecute may control the moment, but those who follow the ways of the world eventually pass to the darkness while those who give their life to the light live on in the light, spreading the light in ways not always known in the moment.

Blessed are those who walk within His light, for as they seek to live their faith, they prepare themselves for the promise He gives which is that all who shall believe in Him shall have eternal life with Him. And so the choice remains with each of the children of His creation, to accept the darkness of the world or to be filled with the light of the Holy Spirit. Only those who have opened their eyes to the light will know the blessings of the Holy Spirit. Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit are guided by Him who brought us the truth, the truth of the light and the waters of everlasting life. And in the light, His light, is found a love so strong that even the persecuted will find the power to forgive and pray for those who persecute. And through the forgiveness which fills their heart, they shall find Him and join in Him.

He was sent to the world to be the light for the world so that all who might see the light might join in the light, an eternal light which has always been and which always shall be, a light which extinguishes the darkness. Through Him, all may join in Him to become part of the light, the everlasting life of His grace, His mercy and His love. As we accept the Son, so too do we accept the Father, for it is through the Son all are brought to the Father.

His love is there for us now. His love has always been and forever shall be, it is but the choice of the children of His creation to accept that love.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier