Staying faithful when you’re persecuted

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

Hugh Latimer, the famous early Anglican bishop, once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Latimer to preach again the following Sunday to make up for this egregious offense. The next Sunday, the King had some choice words for Latimer before he preached:

“Do you know before whom you are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king’s most excellent majesty, who can take away your life if you offend. Therefore, take heed that you speak not a word that may displease.”

That Sunday, Hugh Latimer preached the exact same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday—and with considerably more energy. Latimer didn’t die that day, but he stood facing possible death all the while remaining faithful to the correct teaching of Scripture.

Most of us will never face death for remaining faithful to the Bible. Yet in the face of peer pressure or other kinds of persecution, Christians can all too easily back down from remaining faithful to God in order to appease.

We can’t allow worldly pressures to dissuade us from the gospel. So stay faithful to God no matter what you face because your reward from Him will be great!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you the courage to stay faithful to Him when you’re pressured to waver in your faith.

Questions for Thought

Think back on the times when you’ve stood for your faith despite pressure to cave in. How did it make you feel that you stayed faithful?

What pressures do you face today that try to convince you to waver in your faith?