STRENGTH

Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
-----------------------------------

Christian persecution started with Jesus himself. The religious elite in Jerusalem knew what Jesus was saying – it was very clear to them that He was claiming to be God. As such, Jesus was put to death on a Roman cross for the crime of blasphemy, thus becoming the first martyr for what would become the Christian Church. And years of Christian persecution followed:

 Stephen was thrown out of Jerusalem and stoned to death.
 James, the son of Zebedee and the elder brother of John, was killed when Herod Agrippa arrived as governor of Judea.
 Philip, a disciple from Bethsaida, in Galilee, suffered martyrdom when he was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified.
 Matthew, the tax-collector from Nazareth who wrote his gospel in Hebrew, suffered martyrdom by the sword.
 Matthias was the apostle who filled the vacant place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
 Andrew was the brother of Peter who preached the gospel throughout Asia. He was arrested and crucified on a cross.
 Mark was converted to Christianity by Peter, and then transcribed Peter’s account of Jesus in his Gospel. He was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria in front of Serapis, their pagan idol.
 Peter was condemned to death and crucified at Rome upside down, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.
 Paul suffered in the first persecution under Nero, an execution by the sword.

We need to be strong in the truth and the goodness and the love and the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter what.

Almighty Father, they may have hated me because I love you. I may have hated you more but you still love me. I recognize that I have not lived my life for You up until now. I need You in my life; I want You in my life. Come into my life now, Lord. Take up residence in my heart and be my king, my Lord, and my Savior. Amen +

Turn from evil and do good, that you may abide forever…