How to Shine Your Message When You Are Persecuted
OPENING PRAYER:
Jesus, help me have courage this morning to share my story with someone and give me someone in my path who I can share with.
The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. Acts 5:27-33
REFLECT:
We have all been in situations where we have been afraid to share our story with others. We could have been afraid because of rejection by the other person or because of something more serious.
Peter and the apostles encountered this same thing. They were given orders in the story above not to go and preach the Gospel to others. Peter knew that this was not right and he kept spreading the Gospel wherever he went. Because of their defiance, they were heavily persecuted.
APPLY:
When Peter was persecuted, he had a choice to make, he could have chosen to be afraid and to stop sharing the Gospel but he didn’t do that. He and the other apostles chose to keep sharing the Gospel wherever they went because they knew how important the message of hope was to the world.
The same is true for us, we know how important the message of Jesus is to the world. We know what will happen to people if they do not hear the Gospel. It is with a sense of urgency that Jesus gives us the great commission and tells us to go and share the Gospel with others. Be encouraged today that many others have gone before you and shared the Gospel with others through persecution. When this happens, know that your Heavenly Father sees what’s going on the work you are doing is not done for nothing.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, help me to proclaim your message wherever I go and to speak boldly. Amen
WORSHIP: