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Does the Bible have any encouragement for today’s persecuted believers?

Current news should bother us. Christians across the world, especially in countries where ISIS exists, are being persecuted, hunted down, and murdered because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Hardly a week goes by before we hear another report of another video of another group of Christians being murdered by Islamic terrorists. We should be horrified. We should ask our political leaders to do something. We should pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters. We should pray for God’s justice and vindication.

We should seek answers.

I propose that we go to a book of the Bible that does answer questions for us about persecuted believers. The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation while experiencing persecution on the isle of Patmos to believers facing the wrath of Rome’s emperor Domitian.

No doubt this apocalyptic text does describe for us much of what will happen in the future. However, the first readers of Revelation would not likely have been intent on discovering its end times interpretation beyond the certainty that Christ rules and reigns. Because of their personal suffering, they would have sought a more immediate hope than the consummation of the ages. In the book of Revelation, they would fin comfort, consolation, and encouragement. The unveiled Christ who gave John the vision of Revelation gives hope to Christian martyrs. They will worship at the throne of the King of Kings (Rev. 7:9-17), receive justice (Rev. 19:2), and they will experience the most glorious display of righteousness, justice, and victory in the history of mankind (Rev. 19:11-21).

John’s original readers met a Christ, not robed in the humble vestiges of a Carpenter or traveling preacher, but they met this Christ of Glory—this Sovereign in the midst of the churches—this King of Kings—this undaunted Prophet and Judge speaking his Word of judgment to the world—this paradoxical vision of High Priest and Worthy Lamb—this Ancient of Days—this returning Omnipotent Son of Man (Revelation 1). The unveiled Christ of John’s Revelation offered them salvation, hope, eternal life, justice, mercy, and victory.

We as believers should bemoan the persecution faced by our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should seek and pray for their vindication. We should persuade our politicians to pursue justice for them. We should give them aid. But we need to remember that we have the end of the story. We’ve read the final chapters of world history. And friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, we win. So, if genuine persecution should come to our shores. If we should face the persecution so many millions of our spiritual family members have faced. Then we must take courage. The Christ of glory is the King of kings and all will bow at his feet, all will tremble at glory of his holiness, and we will reign with him in righteousness.

“He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Revelation 22:20-21

Spring is for Growth

istock_000011742381xsmallIf it were not that Spring wreaks havoc on my allergies, it would be my favorite time of year. Springtime is the season for new growth. In a sense, Spring can be an analogy for our spiritual lives. We need times that refresh and renew us in our relationship with God. My post below will look at a few ways we can spur on our spiritual growth using Spring as an analogy.

  1. Spring follows winter. In the part of the country where I live, we generally experience four seasons. While our winters are mild, they do give us rainfall, snow, and cold weather that puts plants into dormancy. We all have, and sometimes even need times of winter in our spiritual lives. These seasons reinforce for us our need to grow and provide us a basis for growth. Without winter precipitation, Spring could not arrive in all of its green glory.
  2. Spring is natural. I know, I know, some of you are thinking, “But if only my spiritual growth just happened. It seems so difficult to consistently grow.” While our spiritual growth is more supernatural, than natural, the concept still fits. As Spring arrives without our help, so our spiritual growth is supposed to take place. God designed us and purposed us for growth. I believe not growing in Christlikeness is more unnatural for the believer than growing.
  3. Spring needs resources. You may think I’m being contradictory. While Spring is natural, it is not alone in its arrival. Spring flowers, plants, and grass grow because of rainfall and sunlight. Nourishment encourages Spring’s arrival as God designed nature to work together. Likewise, we need nourishment from the Son (through His written Word) and from fellowship with our Father (through prayer). These are just some of the resources God purposed for our spiritual growth.
  4. Spring brings life. I love looking at the beauty of God’s created world. Flowers that bloom, grass that turns from brown to bright green, leaves that sprout on trees, and even the insects and animals that seemingly swarm with life during the Springtime are testaments to God’s creative genius. Want to have and spread spiritual life? Then, you and I must pursue spiritual growth.

You may not feel like you’re in the Spring of your relationship with God. You may feel dry and dormant, wondering what is going on in your life. You may feel as if you’re wilting under the burning heat of a spiritual summer. Or you may be cold with a wintry blast of discouragement. Spiritual seasons in life are just as natural as the seasons of our year. How do we respond? I would advise that you pursue the God who wants you to grow. Let him speak to you through his Word. Talk to him in prayer. Build relationships with other believers who will encourage you. Make it a point to be in church. Share Christ’s love and story with someone else. In other words, apply the resources of a spiritual Springtime in your life whether you feel like its Spring or not. God desires your growth even more than you do. He won’t let you remain stagnant for long. Spring is here. Let’s pursue our spiritual growth during this beautiful season.