Do You Have Spiritual Grit?

Have you ever been persecuted?

You might answer tentatively, “Maybe, but nothing like Jesus or Paul.”

Near the end of the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews is a brief list of various ways that early Christians suffered for their faith. History has added to that record. Then, in their book Jesus Freaks, authors Toby McKeehan and Mark Heimermann recorded story after story of individuals who suffered imprisonment, harsh persecution and even death for their faith in Jesus. The shocking thing is that their stories come from around the world in the 20th century. Persecution continues today.

At the heart of the New Testament word persecution is the idea of driving, pushing or setting in motion. Persecution is not just a harsh act against a believer, but the malevolent pursuit of that person because of his/her faith.

When Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath, it created quite a stir. The Bible says:

For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus…. 

Therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him…. 

—John 5:16, 18

It was not the case that the Jews simply disagreed with Jesus. They did not merely judge against His actions on that occasion. They were in pursuit of Jesus, desiring to kill Him.

Perhaps you remember the persecutor Saul of Tarsus (later known as the Apostle Paul):

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

—Acts 9:1-2

Later, Paul had to endure persecution while preaching. He encountered Jews who followed him from city to city stirring up the people against him. He was beaten, imprisoned, and once, left for dead after being stoned.

It is my guess that most of us have not had to endure harsh persecution for our faith. Even so, persecution is not always extreme as it was with Jesus and Paul.

In our seemingly peaceful nation with free speech and religious freedom we are seeing increasing opposition to biblical Christianity. The Bible speaks of one God, one Lord, and one faith. Today’s tolerance movement simply will not tolerate anything absolute. Times are changing and you and I need to be ready. You need to decide NOW how you will stand in your faith, even in the face of persecution.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 

—2 Corinthians 4:8-9

And we labor, working with our own hands; when we are verbally abused, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we reply as friends.... 

—1 Corinthians 4:12-13

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

—2 Timothy 3:12

Read Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. Make note of the one who was persecuted. We must have the spiritual grit to endure. After all, we have a promise...

Blissful are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

—Matthew 5:10

Mark Stinnett

February 13, 2022