Around The Campfire: Week 6 (Southaven)

Jesus warned the disciples that they would face struggles and persecution for following Him. Even their lives would be threatened for sharing the good news about the resurrection of Jesus. This applied not only to the first disciples, but to those who began to follow Jesus in the first century. Throughout the centuries, and even today, many Christians are persecuted and risk their lives for the sake of following the risen Jesus. It is heartbreaking and creates fear in many of us when we see a Christ-follower lose their life for the sake of the Gospel. But those who are willing to endure persecution for the sake of telling others about Jesus will see God’s glory revealed and they can expect heavenly reward. The first recorded martyr, a disciple named Stephen, shows us that God is powerfully present with us, even in supernatural ways, when we risk facing hardship for Him. While we may never face death in the way that Stephen did, we are all called to make sacrifices for our faith. And we can be sure that God will give us the strength and encouragement to keep moving forward, even if it requires extraordinary supernatural means.