1 Corinthians 13:4a Love suffers long

John 15:20b If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;

I link these two verses together for a proper understanding of agape love which dwells in me. His will is always to bring the lost sheep to salvation. If we think about suffering in any other term than spiritual, we misunderstand this purpose for His abiding love.

Matthew 5:44 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;

Loving like that is not instinctual or natural. We cannot do this in our own strength. We need God’s abiding agape love to change our very nature. Persecution takes on many forms. Most of it takes on the form of testing your faith. We will be very fortunate if it never gets physical. For some of us it has already done so.

Revelation 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Everyone I know would just as soon avoid such persecution. They will look everywhere in scriptures for joy, happiness, fellowship, and peace to find comfort. Where will they turn when things go against their wishes?