Patient Endurance | Daily Devotion
12 This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
Revelation 14:12-13 NLT
After speaking about the angels flying through the sky, the first sharing the Good News calling all people to fear God, then the second angel announcing the fall of the world system, and the third angel informing everyone regarding the wrath of God for all who take the mark of the beast and idolize – John says, “This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.”
Christians will be persecuted even more because those in the world are suffering, and in their suffering and pain they will turn on and lash out at Christians, who represent Jesus Christ.
If the world knows that they are suffering because of Jesus Christ, they will attack Christ’s people even more with a false mentality that if they hurt God’s people, their pain will stop or they will be getting back at God. But that is an idolatrous mindset.
Nevertheless, there’s a beautiful truth in Acts 9:31 regarding the Christian church. The Christian church becomes “stronger as believers live in the fear of the Lord” and with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church grows in numbers.
Therefore, as Christians are enduring persecution, this knowledge of how to acquire strength is important. Strength comes when one fears the Lord, according to the Lord – so wise is the Christian who walks in the fear of God, obeying the Lord in what He is calling of them out of reverence for who God is and awe of His everlasting power and might.
When a Christian walks in the fear of the Lord, it’s not a walk of duress or duty, but a walk of delight – committed to the One who is so ever faithful to them. Strength is a byproduct of this behavior, reflecting a heart and mind right before Jesus Christ.
And this is what Christians need in this time. The strength only God can provide, for they will face the fiercest persecution for belonging to Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the example for every suffering Christian, as is said in 1 Peter 2:21-25 NLT “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd the Guardian of your souls.”
As children of God, Christians are no longer slaves to sin, thus they have power over their sinful nature by the power of the Holy Spirit and can resist temptation from without and the carnal desires from within. Nevertheless, one who cannot control their sinful nature is a slave to sin, not living alive in Christ.
See, the truth is, when we are being attacked for no reason, except for the fact that the person attacking us is spiritually devoid of Jesus Christ and has psychological issues with an unstable mind, we naturally become defensive and fight. This is human nature. This is how God created us. Our human body naturally responds in fight or flight when we are assaulted. While some, their nature is to take the hit and not fight back and are walked over. Neither is right. It’s not ok to fly off the handle in anger nor take the hit to defeat. The right step when attacked or assaulted is to do what Jesus Christ tells you to do in that moment. Therefore, it is very important to remain close to Jesus Christ, praying without ceasing.
We are to physically defend our bodies and our family, when we are persecuted. When we are verbally insulted that is an offense and we are to turn the other cheek and not allow that verbal assault to shape our mind and heart, in regard to who we are, as Jesus Christ’s words hold more weight and authority than this other person’s words. We would be idolizing if we placed more weight on this person’s insulting words regarding us, than on Christ’s words spoken over us.
So in order to endure persecution patiently, we need to behave like Christ having the mind of Christ regarding the specific persecution. Jesus sarcastically spoke to the religious elite when they challenged Him. Jesus defended Himself. He, however, was silent when people wanted to see a magic trick. He alone died on the cross for sins – that was a one and done. That was the will of God the Father for Him. So, in this given situation what is God the Father’s will in handling the persecution you’re facing – take steps toward Christ in obedience, not away from Christ by acts of sin.
So when persecutions arise, Christians are to endure them patiently, obeying Christ regarding how He wants the situation handled. The persecution will challenge one’s faith, as their reality might not match their belief – oftentimes it’s a surreal feeling holding a lot of negative, where one says “I cannot believe this is happening.” Many often wonder when God’s promises will come to fruition, and the length of waiting does challenge one’s faith leaving some wondering if God will ever deliver them.
Now here during the Tribulation, God’s word states Christians will suffer. That’s a given. They will not be able to escape. It will be something to endure, while not walking away from Jesus. So their minds will have to grapple with the very difficult truth – severe pain and suffering does not indicate God’s lack of love for you, it takes place because of the sin in the world. God’s love is ultimately witnessed in His word and what He speaks, not necessarily circumstances or deliverance here on earth. Times deliverance and healing only happen in heaven.
We grow in our faith by hearing the word of God, thus our mind understands the truths of God’s word so much so we can live them out with what we are currently facing. Therefore, in these severe moments of persecution that hit the mind, causing psychological duress – God speaks through His word, stabilizing a mind.
I personally believe God’s word is the strongest source of stability for our mind, for it is God’s voice speaking regarding what we are facing and He is all knowledgeable, knowing exactly what we need.
So, John exhorts Christians, speaking for the Lord, to keep obeying God’s commands during this time of persecution, to not defy God when they are under severe distress, remembering His everlasting love and having a right mind regarding their experience. John exhorts Christians to remain faithful. Again, he targets the mind and heart of believers who are being persecuted. In God’s love He has foretold what will take place, so that Christians are not alarmed upon experience.
Then John heard a voice from heaven, which very well could be God the Father, say, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
This word is needed. Again God gives foresight of what’s to come so that Christians can endure psychologically and spiritually, remaining faithful.
God knows when we need understanding of our situation in order to endure. And Christians are told:
“Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on.”
And the Holy Spirit agrees and says, “Yes, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them.”
For the Holy Spirit to say “Their good deeds follow them,” there is an impact of the Christians good deeds in this time that will remain after they die. What they do for the Lord will minister to those who remain and thus, God will bless them for remaining faithful, obeying Him in the good deeds He has called them to.
There is a special blessing for these Christians, which indicates the severity of their experience. I’m not sure words are able to rightly describe what they will physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually experience.
Sometimes, symbolism is used due to the magnanimity of the truth and how difficult it is to describe – people search for comparisons of readily available knowledge because the reality of this experience is almost beyond comprehension.
Will you pray with me?
Abba, thank You for all of the times you provide us with Your foresight of what’s to come. You don’t hide what we need to know, and we praise You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For more daily devotions by Dr. Alysa VanderWeerd, click here.