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Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. —1 Peter 4:16 It seems like many churchgoers today love to cry “persecution” at the first sign of resistance to their faith. But the truth is that throughout this history of the church, believers have actually taken pride in being persecuted for what they believe. Take the very first church outside Jerusalem in the city of Antioch. The unbelievers around them mockingly called them Christians, which means “little Christs.” Now, you didn’t have Christian activists argue against such a title. No, the church embraced the title and considered it an honor to bear such a name. Real persecution can be harsh and cruel. Yet it really is an honor to suffer for the sake of Christ. And while most of us will never have our lives threatened for our faith, you can be sure millions around the world today who worship not knowing if this is the last day they’ll live understand the honor of persecution. So pray for our brothers and sisters around the world today who face serious persecution for their faith. And when persecution comes your way, consider it an honor to suffer for Christ’s sake because He first suffered for you. There’s no greater encouragement in times of persecution than to know your suffering is for the greatest cause on earth!   BE ENCOURAGED WHEN YOU FACE PERSECUTION, CONSIDERING IT AN HONOR TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST BECAUSE HE SUFFERED FOR YOU. Thursday, October 25, 2018 A Longing for Heaven by Dr. Paul Chappell “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” Philippians 1:21–24 The story is told that during the early days of the establishment of the British colony in Australia, a herd of sheep was sent from Scotland to provide the basis for feeding and clothing the residents. A large quantity of hay was loaded on board to feed the sheep during the long sailing voyage. After many weeks passed, the ship was trapped in dense fog and forced to anchor to avoid being driven aground against hidden rocks. While the ship was anchored, the sheep began refusing to eat their hay. The owners weren’t sure what the problem was, but they feared the sheep would die. When the fog lifted after two days, the reason became clear. The green coast of Australia was in sight. Smelling the sweet grass that lay before them, even though they could not see it, the sheep lost all interest in the dry hay. The reason the things of Earth are so appealing to us is that too often we have lost sight of what is waiting for us. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). The best that this world has to offer is empty and meaningless compared to the true and lasting riches of glory that await us. It is our duty to keep our affections fixed on what is in Heaven, rather than seeking the things of this world. The more we focus on what waits for us beyond the fog, the less power temptation will have. Today’s Growth Principle:  Recognizing the glories of Heaven helps protect us from the temptations of Earth