Standing Firm

Standing Firm

Persecuted Women

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-8

Noviana Malewa still suffers physical and emotional pain as the only survivor of a radical Muslim attack on her and three of her friends in Indonesia. On October 29, 2005, Noviana and three other Christian high-school girls were walking home from school when they were assaulted by a group of jihadists with machetes. The attackers beheaded three of the girls, but Noviana survived the slash to her head and neck. Her extensive medical treatment was provided by The Voice of the Martyrs, one of several organizations dedicated to ministering to persecuted Christians worldwide.

The women in the church at Thessalonica also experienced persecution because of their Christian beliefs. After accepting the gospel through the apostle Paul’s preaching, these early believers faced severe hostility from Jews and Gentiles. The Bible commends them for their response. Instead of running away from the situation, they accepted the suffering as something that God had allowed for his purpose and glory. They made a conscious decision to endure the persecution through God’s strength. In the midst of their suffering, their faith flourished and their love for one another grew.

When we face hostility because of our Christian beliefs, our first instinct may be to avoid it at all costs. We may be tempted to lash out in anger at the unfairness of our situation. Although we may want everyone to like us, as followers of Christ we can expect to be misunderstood, ridiculed, criticized, discriminated against, and even hated. Whenever we take a stand for him, we face the possibility of persecution to some degree. The Bible warns that this will worsen as we move toward the end of time. God promises to give us the strength that we need to endure. In the meantime, we can look forward to the day when God will dole out justice and end all persecution of his children.

Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

2 Timothy 3:12