Revelation 2:10

The risen Lord said: “Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”

It’s hard for most of us to imagine living with the continual likelihood of persecution for our Christian faith. The harshest treatment we are likely to receive is being laughed at because of it. Just imagine what it would be like to live with the fear that at any time there might be a knock at the door from the secret police. For those of us who have never had such an experience, we need to be aware that there are millions of Christians in many parts of the world who live today with exactly that threat. Throughout the past 2,000 years, there has been a constant tide of persecution. The Lord told the church of Smyrna not to be afraid because there would be an amazing reward for their suffering. They would receive the crown of life. This wasn’t the crown of a king, but the trophy awarded to someone who was a champion in athletics – particularly apt in Smyrna, which was famous for its Games.

Smyrna has a very special place in the history of persecution because of one particular martyr in the 2nd century. His name was Bishop Polycarp. He was required to curse the name of Christ and make a sacrifice to Caesar or face being burned to death. Even the proconsul appealed to him to avoid death, but Polycarp replied: “Eighty and six years have I served him and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” After offering a prayer, Polycarp was put to death.

Such suffering is hard to hear about, but it needs to drive us to pray for those who are still being called to pay the ultimate price for their faith. Revelation makes it clear that God has the final word, and those who stand strong will receive the crown of life.

Question

What do today’s reflections say to us about the way we should live for God in this country?

Prayer

Lord God, I thank you for those Christians around the world today who are suffering so badly for their faith. Help me to stand strongly for you, whatever pressures I face. Amen