“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
When we have made the Lord the focus of our affections, it changes how we live which becomes a witness to others. Like the advice that Peter gives to slaves, readers are told to do good for in doing what is right and good, people will give you respect more often than not. However, even if they do not, Jesus said “You will be blessed if you suffer for doing what is right and good. It is better to be blessed at the hand of God than it is to be blessed at the hand of men.” Let Jesus be Lord over all your life and your actions.
I think of very kind and loving people at every church who have been the recipients of criticism and unjust accusations. Many were hurt, even though that was not the intension of the critics, whose intentions were not to harm anyone’s feelings. At times people felt
In Philip Yancey’s article, he talked about being at a meeting in Russia when an ex-convict named Basil unexpectedly showed up. Basil had been listening to reports of their visits all over the Soviet national radio network. For years he had tuned in secretly to short-wave programs listening to gospel messages. Now these men were meeting with President Gorbachev, the Supreme Soviet, KGB, and Kremlin. He couldn't believe it, so he got on a night train and rode 14 hours to see if it was really true.
Basil had broad, hulking shoulders and rugged weather-beaten features of a farmer. Two front teeth on top row were missing and when he smiled, gold fillings gleamed from the back of his mouth. He asked for 5 minutes to address the Christian visitors.
In 1962 he was publishing gospel tracts and had been witnessing and giving them away. The KGB arrested him and sent him to a labor camp. He was perplexed. Why would God punish him for serving Him? Then one morning he saw God had given him a new opportunity. Every morning before sun-up prisoners from the labor camp had to assemble in a open space for roll call. Camp commanders insisted on strict punctuality from them but not from the guards. As a result, 1,000s of prisoners stood outdoors for several minutes each morning with nothing to do. Basil decided to start a church.
He preached daily to a captive audience. He had from 2 to 5 minutes before guards arrived, and it may have taken him two weeks to deliver a sermon. He had to shout to be heard by several 1,000 prisoners outdoors, so his voice developed into the largest and loudest in prison.
“Many prisoners came to faith in Jesus Christ.” He said, "There were many years when I had no encouragement" now he was weeping openly and voice cracked, "The words from this radio minister I carried in my heart and encouraged me when my hands were tied behind my back."
Yancey wrote, "Suddenly, I burned with shame. Here we were 10 evangelical professional who made a good living from our faith, sitting in a luxurious hotel. What did we know about the kind of bedrock faith needed in this nation, of people who had endured such suffering? What gave us the right to represent the Basils of USSR before the Supreme Soviet and the KGB?"
These were people, who when Jesus said come and follow me, gave up their jobs, their families and their freedom and went to the worse prisons of USSR because they knew Jesus was Lord of their lives. They witnessed there, they preached there, they prayed there. They longed to see a Bible. They passed secret messages. They gave away their food and took care of some of the sick.
Basil's prayers, work and witness were being realized.
Applications: Like Basil, liv out the Lordship of Jesus in action.
Prayer: Father,
