The Cost

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25

When you think about it, Paul & Silas' faith is what helped land them in jail in the first place! Still we don't blame our Heavenly Father when we suffer for standing up for the Good News. After all every Christian is called to preach and Yahshua said we would be persecuted for it:

Remember the word that I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me." John 15:21

So it is a lack of knowledge of the One True God that fuels this opposition as well as Ha Satan desire that people will continue to be ignorant of the Father's plan for salvation. Even so, Yah takes no pleasure in the death of wicked people even when they oppress His servants:

"Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his way and live? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore, turn yourselves, and live ye."--Ezek. 18:23, 32.

Really how can people turn if they have not heard and how can they hear if no one goes out and speaks? I mean, somebody's got to do it!

"How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without one who preaches?" Romans 10:14

So sometimes that's just the way it rolls. God is not going to shield us from everything unpleasant. It's the price of doing business for God's Kingdom but whatever the outcome, we should be rejoice in being counted worthy to suffer for our faith while asking for even more courage to KEEP on preaching. After all, lives are at stake.

"And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word." Acts 4:29

PHOTO: Christian recording artist Natalie Grant performing at RevGen 2010.