Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:13-17

We don’t like to think about real persecution, but, for Christians, it is happening even as I write this. You may or may not be aware of the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria. One source I trust indicates the numbers are in the tens of thousands. And then there is the purging of Christians in Lebanon. Our enemy is determined to use any means necessary to attempt to destroy the church, but ultimately he will fail.

At our Bible study a couple of weeks ago, one young man wondered out loud as to how he would respond in such a situation as Jesus described in Mark 13. He asked the question, how?

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Mark 13: 11-13

He and all of us can find help in the verses Peter wrote above.

The people Peter wrote to in the first century recognized persecution and yet Peter encourages them to “have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” Instead, he tells them to be prepared to defend the faith and do that with “gentleness and respect.”

Peter would later die a martyr’s death himself and so his writing reflected the life he led before others. He knew that “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will.”

Life isn’t always easy. There may be a time when our faith costs us more than inconvenience.