To God Be the Glory!
[Pray] that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable.
Romans 15:31
Paul had been accused by Jews and imprisoned by the Romans. It seems that prisons, beatings, shipwrecks and escapes from those who sought to kill him were a large part of his life after his conversion to Jesus.
Even today, persecution comes in many forms. In countries outside the United States, converts of Christ are beaten or killed for their faith. You may even experience mocking or be hated for your beliefs.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (II Corinthians 4:8-10) Of greatest importance is that Christ be glorified.
Ask that your service be acceptable to the Lord. Pray that this nation’s leaders may come to know God better and serve Him wisely. Intercede for those who suffer persecution. The Lord will give strength to the godly. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Stand firm in your faith and be an example to those around you.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)