Persecution pros

On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. ‘It isn’t a man speaking, but a god!’ they shouted. At once the angel of the Lord struck Herod down, because he did not give honour to God. He was eaten by worms and died.

Meanwhile the word of God continued to spread and grow. (verses 21-24)

Read Acts 12:18-25

There is a joke that tells of demons bragging of their terrible deeds for that day. One boasts that he caused a suicide, another tells how he burnt down a church. But the last demon outdoes them all when he reveals that he legalised Christianity in a non­ Christian country.

It’s well known that challenges to people’s faith often make their faith stronger. The Christians of Herod’s day certainly knew about challenges to their faith. Herod, despite his non-Jewish background, was on good terms with the priesthood, and, to please them, he ordered the death of James the son of Zebedee and arrested Peter. His popularity grew and so did his persecuting ways, but still the Christian faith grew stronger. Herod’s reign reached a peak when his people proclaimed him to be a god. The Christians were in hiding, fearing for their lives. But it was Herod who lost his life, and ‘the word of God continued to spread and grow’.

Take heart today. The persecution you suffer may be more subtle and less life threatening than that of the early Christians, but with God’s help you can survive any challenge to your faith and come out of it the stronger for it.

Lord, daily I experience attacks on my faith, from peers, from the media, from my own weaknesses. Be with me, dear Jesus, and help me to continue to grow in your light. Amen.

by Kathy Hoopmann, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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