I am THE LORD, Your God (part 12)

One could ask the question why were the early Christians persecuted? Or better stated how could God let this go on? Could this be to make His people (yes, Christians are God's people too (I Peter 2:5)) strong in their faith? (Romans 5:3-5) Certainly, they knew who God was and what awaited them. They knew the road was hard. Could it be so that since those suffering knew God wasn’t the instigator of this, they could see what truly was the cause of their suffering? And knowing His people knew this, God meant to show others who were and would become His people what laid ahead by demonstrating it through the Christians that were suffering then. It definitely called for those who were riding the fence to make a decision. And it was a way for people to count the cost of following Jesus, that it was no bed of roses. It was also a way for God to show that nothing on this earth mattered and it doesn’t last forever. While there are exciting and beautiful things here on earth, that is nothing compared to what awaits those that believe in Him.