Arm Yourselves for Suffering

 1 Peter 1-5 

“…who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time…Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed…Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin…Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 1:5, 13; 4:1, 5:8-10

Those who follow Jesus Christ will be persecuted. For those in the West, that persecution could come through the witness at work or school or even from other Christians. The first generation followers of Christ in least-reached areas of the world often face immediate persecution for their new faith. We should mentally arm ourselves with the expectation that persecution is normal. We will experience what Christ experienced. God’s power shields us from spiritual harm, but our bodies can still suffer. We resist Satan’s attacks in Jesus’ name through our faith in Christ, our self-control, and our perseverance despite suffering. Jesus has won the victory.

“Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith to endure persecution and to cause others to stand firm in the battle.”