What Good Is Persecution?

And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’ [Acts 22.20]

Not enough can ever be said about the witness and impact Stephen had on Paul's life.

Here, in a conversation with Jesus (in a trance), Paul is very open about the effect Stephen's death had upon his life and ministry.

Two things: 

First, we should all be affected as much as Paul by the suffering of those persecuted for their faith, beginning with Jesus. 

And, secondly, we should all have this attitude about suffering for our faith - that it serves great spiritual purpose.

Persecution provides the perfect platform to testify most accurately for Jesus Christ.

But also consider this:

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. [1 Peter 4:1]

The benefits of persecution go beyond a good testimony! Suffering persecution has a purifying effect on us.

I know this is not necessarily what we want to hear, but it is straight from the Bible.

Father, help us all to comprehend and understand the potential good that comes from persecution!