If God sends a “fiery trial” to His own children, and they are saved “with difficulty,” what will happen to lost sinners when God’s fiery judgment fails?

When a believer suffers, he experiences glory and knows that there will be greater glory in the future. But a sinner who causes that suffering is only filling up the measure of God’s wrath more and more. Instead of being concerned only about ourselves, we need to be concerned about the lost sinners around us. Our present “fiery trail” is nothing compared with the “flaming fire” that will punish the lost when Jesus returns in judgment. The idea is expressed in Proverbs 11:31: “If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” (NIV)

Times of persecution are times of opportunity for a loving witness to those who persecute us. It was not the earthquake that brought that Philippian jailer to Christ, because that frightened him into almost committing suicide! No, it was Paul’s loving concern for him that brought the jailer to faith in Christ. As Christians, we do not seek vengeance on those who have hurt us. Rather, we pray for them and seek to lead them to Jesus Christ

From the Word: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Other Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-18; Matthew 23:29-33;2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Matthew 5:10-12, 43-48.

Action assignment: Pray for an unsaved person you know—possibly someone who persecutes you—and ask God to enable you to witness to that person.