I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing
with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
So what do we do now? How do we apply what God’s Word says about persecution? First, pray for the persecuted church. If we, as Americans and the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, do nothing about the suffering and martyrdom of our fellow believers in Christ around the world, then we are no different than Saul holding the coats of those stoning Stephen. Ignoring their plight is the same as enabling their executioners. Pray for these men and women to be strong until the very end.
There is a date that you should become permanently aware of. Every year in early November, a special day is planned as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Get your church involved on this Sunday, for it is the corporate prayers of Christians around the world that may be the only sources of hope for those enduring torture for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Secondly, seek out Christian organizations that give you direct ways of helping those in harm’s way. The Persecution Project and Voice of the Martyrs come to mind.
Let’s also apply this topic of martyrdom to our personal lives. As believers, our lives are no longer our own. We belong to God. If we are submissive to His will, then He will use our lives for His glory. The Apostle Paul declared: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). We are already dead, but alive in Him!
Paul gives more encouragement in Romans 8:18, the verse above. This should be the main focus for Christians enduring persecution. Jesus is a man worth dying for. He is worth our life and our very last breath. Whatever we face here is nothing compared to the glory ahead!
We have voluntarily given up our lives for the sake of the Gospel. But to be honest, sometimes we don’t live our lives with Christ in control. We let the temptations and other evils of the modern world rule our daily lives. It takes a conscious effort to die daily to ourselves and put Christ first.
I encourage you to begin each day with a simple prayer, asking the Lord to live through you and guide your steps for His honor and glory. Whether through your life or physical death, give Him total control. Be a living martyr.