But What Can I Do?

Much of the free time I’ve had this week has been spent on prayer and thinking about our brothers and sisters in Antioch, TN. The media has been focused on other things while we have family that has been openly persecuted on American soil for a reason still unknown. It is obviously that they were targeted because they were Christian’s, why else was this done at a church? Once again, we find ourselves absolutely mortified by something that scripture explicitly tells us will happen. “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12 NASB), “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)  “For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” (1 Peter 3:17). Also read, Matt. 5:10, 1 John 3:13, Rom. 12:17-21, and many many more. But since this evil deed happened, what can I do?  Jesus would tell us to love your enemy and pray for those who would persecute you in Matt. 5:44. This is something our brothers and sisters in Antioch have been doing. Truly the love of Christ has been shining through their attitudes and examples. In Rev. 2, Jesus tells the church in Smyrna that they are going to suffer persecution for a short time period but, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10b). This means not only until death, but also in the face of death. We can’t give up on Christ just because it’s hard. After all, he didn’t give up on us when it got hard for Him. Lastly, we need to pray for our family. James 5:13 tells us that when anyone among us is suffering we are to pray. Prayers of the righteous can accomplish more than we could ever imagine (James 5:16-17).  I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley