Let's look at this scripture: 1 Peter 4:15-16 "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter." My friend, When we suffer are we suffering for Christ's sake or for something we have caused in and of ourselves? We should not be ashamed to say we are Christians to be identified with Christ; instead our lives should glorify God. You can see Peter's growth, he did not want Christians to make the same error he did and suffer the consequences he did. We are reminded of Peter's own denial of Christ (Luke 22:54-62) ~ Peter feared for his life and denied knowing Christ. Here Peter has grown in his Christian walk and is exhorting us to not be ashamed to glorify God by standing up for Him. It was this determination not to be ashamed that also encouraged Paul when he went to Rome (Romans 1:16), when he suffered in Rome (Philippians 1:20-21), and when he faced martyrdom in Rome (2 Timothy 1:12).
Friends, Scripture makes it very clear that as Christians, if we are living a godly life we will be persecuted. Stand strong in your faith living each day as unto The Lord.
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