Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Thousands of Christians have learned the secret of In unmistakable language He told them that
contentment and joy in trial. Some of the happiest discipleship meant a life of self-denial, and the
Christians I have met have drunk the full cup of bearing of a cross. He asked them to count the cost
trial and misfortune. Some have been life-long carefully, lest they should turn back when they met
sufferers. They have had every reason to sigh and with suffering and privation.
complain, being denied so many privileges and
Jesus told His men that the world would hate them.
Victory in the
They would be “like sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16).
They would be arrested, scourged and brought
Hour of Trial
before governors and kings. Even their loved ones We are told that the martyrs went rejoicing to their
would persecute them. As the world hated and deaths, as if they were going to a marriage feast.
persecuted Him, so it would treat His servants. He
They bathed their hands in the blaze kindled for
warned further, “They will put you out of the synagogue; in
them, and shouted with gladness. One early
fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is
historian, witnessing their heroism, wrote, “When
offering a service to God” (John 16:2).
the day of victory dawned, the Christians marched in
procession from the prison to the arena as if they
were marching to heaven, with joyous countenances
Christians can rejoice agitated by gladness rather than fear.”
in tribulation because We are not surprised that the early Christians
they have eternity’s rejoiced in suffering, since they looked at it in the
values in view. light of eternity. The nearer death, the nearer a life
of eternal fellowship with Christ. When Ignatius was
about to die for his faith in 110 A.D., he cried out,
Many of Christ’s followers were disappointed in “Nearer the sword, then nearer to God. In company
Him, for in spite of His warnings they expected with wild beasts, in company with God.”
Him to subdue their enemies and to set up a world
political kingdom. When they came face to face with
reality, they “went back and walked with Him no more” Paul wrote from prison
(John 6:66, NKJV). But the true disciples of Jesus at Rome, “What has
all suffered for their faith.
happened to me has
Tacitus, a Roman historian, writing of the early really served to
Christian martyrs, said, “Mockery of every sort was
added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of
advance the gospel.”
beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were
nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and The Christians of the early church believed that “the
burnt, to serve as nightly illumination, when daylight sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with
had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18, NKJV).
spectacle.” How true were the words of Paul to the Thus they could regard present difficulties as of
early Christians. “We must go through many hardships to little consequence and could endure them with
enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). patience and cheerfulness.
In all ages Christians have found it possible to and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ”
maintain the spirit of joy in the hour of trial. In (Acts 5:41–42).
circumstances that would have felled most men,
As we read the book of Acts we soon realize that
they have so completely risen above them that they
suffering and death intensified the joy of the early
actually have used the circumstances to serve and
Christians. The apostle Paul could write, “In all our
glorify Christ. Paul wrote from prison at Rome,
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has troubles my joy knows no bounds” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
really served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). In all his sufferings and sorrows he experienced a
In our day millions of Christians are suffering in deep, abiding joy. He wrote of being “sorrowful, yet
many parts of the world. More people died for always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). With sincerity
Christ in the last century than in any other century he declared that for Christ’s sake he was ‘‘delight[ed] in
in the history of the church. weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Count It as a Favor
There is no doubt that the Bible teaches that every
believer who is faithful to Christ must be prepared Suffering and death
to suffer at the hands of those who are enemies of intensified the joy of
the Gospel. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in the early Christians.
Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” said Paul (2 Timothy 3:12).