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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our New Uploads<\/strong> page.<\/span><\/p>\n Satan will see that \u201c. . . all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution\u201d (2 Tim. 3:12). Peter wrote some words designed to produce courage in the face of persecution:<\/span><\/p>\n And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall Himself perfect, establish, strengthen you\u201d (1 Pet. 5:10).<\/span><\/p>\n These words are still appropriate for us, and they will help us when we are assailed by evil forces. First, we are reminded that our God is a gracious God who will not ignore us or abandon us. We need to remember that God has promised:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?\u201d (Heb. 13:5\u20136).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Also, we are to remember that God has called us through the Gospel (2 The. 2:14) to receive His eternal glory, an additional assurance in itself that He will not forsake us. Our calling of God was \u201cin Christ.\u201d Only those who have answered the Gospel call of God in obedience are \u201cin Christ\u201d (having been baptized into Him, Gal. 3:27), and only those \u201cin Christ\u201d who do not grow so weary they faint will receive the glory (Gal. 6:10).<\/span><\/p>\n What will our gracious God do for us in light of our sufferings for His sake? He will make us \u201cperfect,\u201d a word meaning to put all parts right with one another, to equip, or adjust. He will also \u201cestablish\u201d us (i.e., make us firm, as a foundation). Additionally, God will \u201cstrengthen\u201d us or impart to us the spiritual strength we need. These were not promised as miraculous grants even in the age of miracles. Rather, He has provided the armament and weaponry by which we may \u201cstand against the wiles of the devil,\u201d but we must \u201cput it on\u201d and \u201ctake it up\u201d to succeed (Eph. 6:10\u201318).<\/span><\/p>\n These elements of strength are promised after we have suffered \u201ca little while.\u201d The term used here simply means \u201ca little\u201d and may refer to either time or extent, or both. The assurance is that we will not have suffered much until God will supply the strength we need for whatever may come, including perhaps more extensive and prolonged trials. How tragic it is to see a brother or sister, like the plant that springs up in the rocky soil, wither away and desert the cause when \u201ctribulation or persecution arise because of the Word\u201d (Mat. 13:20\u201321).<\/span><\/p>\n Brethren, let us remember that our God holds out eternal glory for His children who are willing to suffer a little while for His sake. Let us call upon the strengths He provides and determine to be faithful to the very end.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it was published in The Edifier, <\/em>weekly bulletin of Pearl Street Church of Christ, Denton, TX, June 22, 1989, of which I was editor.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner, curator, and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our New Uploads page. Satan will see that \u201c. . . all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution\u201d (2 Tim. 3:12). Peter wrote some words designed to produce courage in the…<\/p>\n\n