Okay, so it’s 2:12 am and I’m awake. Can’t sleep so I thought I’d see if any of my friends are online. Hah! not really 
I just finished watching Death Race, and I don’t know why but Daniel came to my head. Daniel? Daniel who?? Then it struck me. Daniel from the Bible. I don’t know why Joseph didn’t pop up because he would have fit the scenario that Jason Statham faced. But Daniel came to my mind. Speaking about Daniel, I’m reminded of when I was yet in Youth Group and when we did a series on the life and on the book of Daniel. That was a really good study. He was captured and tried and tested and with God’s help he triumphed for God’s glory through His strength. Then I started thinking about why I’m thinking about Daniel and then the three young men, Shadrak, Mishak and Abednego came to my mind. They stood for what was right and man tried to conform them to their own standards and when they wouldn’t they tried to kill God’s men. And even that didn’t work because Jesus saved them. Then, my mind ventured to Daniel in the lions’ den. Wow! Imagine that! Being captured because you pray to the one true God and being thrown in a den full of hungry lions! That’s not fun; I’m pretty sure they lions weren’t friendly and that you wouldn’t think they’re cute and would let you touch their maine if you try to be nice. But miraculously, nothing happened to Daniel because God protected him. Now, Joseph comes to my mind. How he was sold into slavery by his brothers, and how because of his faithfulness to God that he became a great man in Egypt. And that even after running away from Pharaoh’s wife who tried to seduce him, he got put in prison for something he didn’t do. And how God brought him out of there and made him second in command in Egypt because of his faithfulness to God.
And then… then my mind goes to Jesus… My Lord, my God, my Savior, my Friend… The one who died for my sins… He did NOTHING wrong!!! and yet, they crucified Him… he let them crucify Him so that I could live!!! Me! an ungrateful, sinful man can live because of Him taking my place and punishment.
All of these men had one thing in common: they did nothing wrong. Everything they did pleased God, I’m sure, but yet they were persecuted. Makes you wonder why sometimes… why would God allow that. Why do we let our kids certain mistakes, so that when we fail we learn from it… and we learn by the consequences of that mistake. I’m sure these men were not doing anything wrong, but God wanted to show his glory to them and to everyone around them. He wanted to show them the truth. He wanted them to learn from the lives of others. He wanted them to see that He is God and He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) I love that verse because its saying that everything that you go through or that anyone goes through is not new; someone or the other has been through it before. So, God won’t allow you to go through something that you can’t handle with His strength. He also says in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. Therefore, if we can do all things through Christ, and if He won’t let us go through something we can’t handle, we can handle anything as long as it’s by His strength. And once we do, and once we overcome that situation, we will see and learn that He is able and that He is real and that He cares…. And not only us, but others will see, too, that He is God!
So don’t complain when you’re persecuted; don’t whine because you’re having a rough time.
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Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you
Will you be willing to endure… for His glory and His sake…
Will you be willing to trust Him and let Him be victorious over your persecution….
Will you take the final stand…. for Him
