Every day is like the luck of the draw. Sometimes you experience undeserved blessings. Other mornings you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, confronted with the pain of unjust suffering. According to Peter, a disciple of Jesus who faced his own trials and tribulations, as you undergo these periods in life, be conscious of God.
For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God, 1 Peter 2:19.
Unfortunately, those who become a target of the enemy like Job, sometimes moments of crisis can be overwhelming. If you have ever read John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, its almost hard to believe someone could endure such pain. In the face of death, these saints considered sacrificing their lives rather than compromising their faith. Truly, these individuals were conscious of God.
They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated, Hebrews 11:37.
Modern Christians in America are facing a new challenge, the loss of religious freedoms. Whether its prayer in school, the 10 commandments displayed in public places or quoting politically incorrect verses from the Bible, any of these infractions will leave you in hot water, under scrutiny from the mainstream media. Nonetheless, if you are acting out of conviction, in the name of Jesus, you may be on the verge of experiencing the pain of unjust suffering.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 