But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. – 1 Peter 3:14
God was going to be rid of them all, every man, woman, and child on Earth, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). Because of that, the Lord gave him a daunting task that only a man of faith could accomplish. Noah was to build an ark. And no one had ever even experienced rain, much less a flood!
There was no way to hide an object 350 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Can you imagine the ridicule he and his family had to endure in following the Lord’s instructions? The wickedness of man was great, and “every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Through it all, Noah was faithful, and was blessed for it.
Christ Jesus faced abuse, both verbally and physically, for the words He proclaimed. He suffered pain one cannot imagine for the sins of every person on Earth, and He died on the cross. He remained faithful to God the Father, who raised Him from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 1:1-3).
The apostles and the early church faced persecution because they believed in Christ as their Savior, and they proclaimed the Good News. Peter called them to be faithful. Their merciful God had caused them to be “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3), and they would live again.
There are many who suffer because of their faith today. Pray that the Lord gives them the strength to endure the trials.
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