More Than Conquerors

August 3

Early believers in Christ suffered much for their faith. Like believers today in some countries where religious freedom is neither accepted nor tolerated, they often endured severe persecution and even death for their belief in the Messiah-ship of Jesus and the salvation attained through His sacrifice.

So these early Jewish believers went forth from Palestine, taking the Gospel “…to the uttermost parts of the earth” Acts 1:8. Of course, they had been told by the risen Lord in the first part of that verse that, “You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you shall be My witnesses…”

Though their way was fraught with persecution, especially from the Romans who detested both them and the traditional Jews because they refused to bow the knee to the emperor, they went forward to the lions of the Coliseum and to the chains of the galley ships with His love in their hearts and His gospel on their lips!

They did not flinch from Caligula’s cruel practice of using them as human torches to illumine his orgies! No! They reminded themselves that their cruel and unjust punishment was temporary but their victory was eternal! They trusted Paul’s words, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us” Romans 8:37.