John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. KJV
I was in a bible study meeting where the issue of Paul's persecution was being debated. Someone opined that Paul's persecution was a harvest of his heinous crimes against the church. He insinuated that he reaped what he sowed. That sound normal based on the law of sowing and reaping yet it is not true in the case of Apostle Paul. It was not on record that Peter persecuted anyone nor killed believers yet we know from church history that Peter died a martyr under emperor Nero. Even James, the brother of Jesus was killed because of his faith in Christ Jesus. So if other Apostles who died as martyrs did not persecute or kill believers like Paul did, how come they suffered and died as martyrs?
This is the answer in Acts9:16 "For I will show him what great things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Jesus told Ananias about Apostle Paul that his calling entails suffering for his name. All the persecutions of Paul weren't a harvest of his past but it was part and parcel of his calling and life as a believer. The same applied to other Apostles and Christians in their day. They suffered persecution for the sake of their faith. Jesus didn't mince word when he said we shall be persecuted like they did to him. A servant is not greater than his master. If they did all that to Christ, we should expect same. In 2Tim3:12, Paul made it clear to us that if any desire to live a godly life in Christ, persecution is inevitable.
Christians today do not want to hear about persecution for the sake of the kingdom yet it is part of our salvation package. No matter how much we try to be silent about it, we cannot avoid it if our walk with God is genuine. In fact, when we hear about how Christians are being killed and how churches are being razed down with fire, those things are just a fulfilment of the scriptures. Jesus said a time will come when those that kill his disciples would think they are offering a service to God, John16:2. Is it not happening today? If you have not been told, let me state clearly now, persecution is part of the package of salvation. Let's tell the brethren that God never promised a walk with him without persecution. When it comes, we should rejoice in the fact that we are counted worthy to suffer for his name. Great is our reward in heaven if we endure.
father, I receive the grace to endure persecution In Jesus name