Why are you persecuting me? (1 Samuel 11-13, Psalm 38, Acts 9)

How precious are persecuted Christians to the Lord Jesus? In Acts 9 we get to see a glimpse of how Jesus feels about those who suffer for being Christians. We see that Jesus identifies so closely with his suffering people as to say “when you persecute them, you persecute me.”

That’s so helpful for those who are persecuted for their faith to know. Notice what the Lord Jesus says to Saul, he says “why are you persecuting me?” (v4). We know that Saul has been persecuting Christians, but Jesus says “it’s personal, when you pick on my followers, you are picking on me.”

If that’s the case, why doesn’t He stop the persecutors? Sometimes He does, as in here in Acts 9 with the miraculous conversion of Saul who will become the apostle Paul. Other times he allows it to continue – why? Perhaps as his followers suffer for His sake by not compromising on the gospel, others see how valuable Christ is, that he’s worth suffering for. Other times it’s a way of Christ’s innocent suffering being revealed, I think this is what Paul means when he says that he is “filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Colossians 1:24). There is nothing lacking in Christ’s sufferings in that He perfectly paid the price for us, but they are lacking in that people cannot see Christ suffer, but they can see His followers suffer for his sake.

Whatever the reason Jesus allows persecution, it is wonderful to know that if you suffer for Jesus, He sees and stands with you. You are not alone. That would be a good thing to pray for today, that our Christian brothers and sisters around the world would know that Jesus stands with them and is using their suffering for good.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you see all your people suffer for your sake, when we are wronged because we follow you, please help us to trust you are working for good. Please help those around the world suffering for their faith to know that you are standing with them. May they be content to know that you will bring justice, and to pray for those who persecute them. Amen