Vital Signs: Sunday, October 13, 2024

“Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show His justice and to make you worthy of His Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In His justice, He will pay back those who persecute you.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS

Believers in the early church went against the culture of this world in order to follow Jesus. The result of their faith was severe persecution. Paul prayed for peace for those who were persecuted. God could have stopped the persecution. God could have sent that proverbial (or actual) lightning bolt from the sky and wiped out those persecutors. But persecution strengthens Christians, builds endurance, and brings glory to God. It would be nice if life were pain-free, but pain is how we grow in faith by relying on God. We need God helping us through the pain.

Father, give us strength to stay the course!