thoughts on... persecution...

Persecution...
He uses it...
to spread His Word...

Those who had been scattered by the persecution

triggered by Stephen's death traveled as far as

Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch...

Acts 11:19 Msg

and purify His people...

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10 ESV

Christians around the world...

endure much persecution...

China...

the Middle East...

North Korea...

Egypt...

Libya...

Indonesia...

and more...

So far... in North America...

we face very little serious persecution...

and what we do face... 

is not life-threatening...

But we do have our share of affliction... 

many different sorts...

every day...

Each difficulty from His hand...

whether large... or small...

has purpose...

Each individual believer is being prepared, and polished, and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ's own hand performs the preparation-work. Afflictions cannot sanctify, excepting as they are used by Him to this end.

---Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

He is building a temple...
of all His people...
past... present... future...

Those being persecuted now...
are part of us...
who face affliction now...

There is One Church...
One Body...
One Head... Jesus Christ...

As we see persecution of our brothers and sisters...
face difficulties of our own...
let's remember they have one end...
perfection of each living stone...
to come together as one house of worship...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials

of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith

produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect,

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 ESV

Pray for those who are persecuted...

pray for those who are afflicted...

pray for His purpose to be accomplished...

the spreading of His Word...

and purification of His people...