1 Peter Chapter 4 verses 3-4 (NIV)
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
When we decide to follow Jesus, we soon realise that not everyone gets it. Even if thy see a change in our lives, they don’t always like it, if we turn our back on things that we might previously have got involved in. We can turn a deaf ear to the ridicule and insults that might come our way, but when it comes to taking a stand about things that the vast majority of people accept, but that we know go against God’s word, there can be consequences that are much more serious than a few insults coming our way. We are not yet in the same position as the persecuted church, where people put there very lives on the line for Christ. That’s why we need to pray for them, and also be bold enough to speak up while we can.
We can’t make people change their mind, only the Holy Spirit can do that, but we can also do as Jesus taught, and pray for those who persecute us.
Dear Lord,
I ask for grace and discernment to know how to speak and to pray for those who ridicule our faith in You. But help me to also be bold enough to speak up when the need arises. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.