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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: I’ve gained a large following by leading a Bible study. While I enjoy some perks that come from it, people hold me to a higher standard than others. Isn’t this a form of persecution? – P.R.

 

Dear P.R.: Life is easy when all goes smoothly; but when things go wrong, we can quickly lose our sense of balance and perspective.

The important thing is to walk with Christ, to live for Him, and to have one consuming passion to please Him. Then, whatever happens, we know that He has permitted it to teach us some priceless lesson and to perfect us for His service. He will enrich our circumstances, be they pleasant or disagreeable, by the fact of His presence with us. The tomorrows fill us with dread. Whatever awaits us is encountered first by Him – like the shepherd always going ahead of his sheep – therefore any attack on sheep has to deal first with the shepherd. All the tomorrows of our lives have to pass Him before they get to us!

Three Hebrew children were cast into the burning fiery furnace, but the king said, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25, KJV). Our God is with us in the persecution of life!

A comforting story comes from some unknown writer. The first convert of a missionary was tortured to death for his faith. Years later, the missionary also died. In Heaven he met that first convert and asked him how it felt to be tortured to death for his faith. “You know,” the man replied with a shrug and looking a bit bewildered, “I can’t even remember.”

When the mind is set on Christ, He sends His power to get us through.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)