Persecution, Part of the Christian Package

Baptist Daily Devotional
May 1
2 min read

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 1 2025 | Acts 8:1

KEY VERSE: “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Our Lord Jesus Christ did not mince words about the fact that His disciples would be persecuted, that they would be subjected to hostile and ill-treatment because of their faith in Him, and their walk with Him. He was very clear in Matt 5:11 (NIV), "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” The Early Church faced persecution. It is noteworthy that on the day that Stephen was killed for his faith in Jerusalem, “a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1).

The Apostle Paul wrote about his own experiences of suffering for Christ in 2 Tim 3:10-13 (NIV) “¹⁰You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Persecution is part of the Christian package. Remember, don’t expose yourself to unnecessary suffering, but don’t try to save your skin from necessary suffering for Christ; it is part of our heavenly calling in Christ.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Are you facing ill-treatment from unbelievers, or even from some who call themselves Christians, because of your commitment to Christ and your walk with Him? Don’t worry, it is part of the package. The Lord will see you through it all.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, please help me withstand persecution. I pray for Christians suffering because of their faith in various parts of the world. Please strengthen their faith and calm the fires of persecution. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 121: Judges 6 — The Call of Gideon

DAILY word study: PERSECUTION The word persecution comes from the Greek διωγμὸς (diōgmos), rooted in the verb διώκω (diōkō), which means to pursue, chase, or harass. In Acts 8:1, διωγμὸς μέγας refers to a great and hostile pursuit of believers. It implies intentional pressure to silence or scatter, not accidental suffering.

The word is often used to describe the suffering directly caused by faithfulness to Christ (e.g., 2 Timothy 3:12). In this passage, persecution becomes the divine means to spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem.

Reflection:

Are you facing pressure for standing with Jesus? You’re not outside God’s plan — you may be right in the centre of it.