Nov 2 2025 … Persecution Paradox …

Nov 2 2025 … Persecution Paradox … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Jeremy Camp,  singing Walk By Faith… declaring that he (and fellow Christians) will walk by faith, no matter what they (we) face on the road of life.

Highlight Passage: … Acts 8:7-8 … [NLT] … 

7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So , there was great joy in that city.  

… Luke describes how Phillip brought joy to Samaria out of much persecution and distress.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Acts 7:59-8:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke writes of Stephen’s tragic death and the trials faced by Phillip in Samaria and how the sharing of the Gospel brought joy to that city.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 16:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David, in the midst of much persecution, sings that God’s presence gives him much joy.

Reference Passage: …Matthew 5:10-12  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, in HIs sermon on the mount, teaches that God will bless those who are persecuted for His sake.

Reference Passage:… John 16:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus relates to His disciples in the upper room that they would face many trials in their lives but that HE (Jesus) had overcome the world.

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth about ALL THNGS working in the lives of born-again believers for their (our) good and His glory.

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 12:10 {NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul gave witness to learning that even the pain in his (our) life works to give him - and all Christians -  God’s enabling grace..

Reference Passage: …James 1:2-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ brother, James, exhorts fellow Christians to count it all joy when they (we) face trails for God’s glory which grow and deepen out faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author,  Dave Brandon  …  USE THS LNK  -   …  writes about a European Pastor, Hristo Kulichev, who was imprisoned; but after being released, he paradoxically declared, …  “We had a more fruitful ministry there than we could have expected in church. God was better served by our presence in prison than if we had been free.”

And the ODB entry was all about the truth declared by many Biblical sources (see Scriptures shared above) that the trials and persecutions of life are brought into our lives to deepen our faith walk (see photo) and give Christians a platform to share the Gospel, which ALWAYS prevails in the face of persecution and trials.  

Whatever we face today, my fellow Christian readers, let us do so - with joy - knowing that we can face life’s trials with God’s promise that His glory will come from our facing suffering for His sake.   Personally, I’m up for it again today.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for giving me Your enabling grace to face the road ahead. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... for calling us today … and every day … to walk by faith on the road of life ahead. … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.