I just caught the news again of the harsh persecution realities of what our brothers and sisters are going through in the Middle East and in Africa and it made me rethink some scriptures about hope, faith and love. I wanted to share my thoughts. “Now faith is the substance (confidence or assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

In spite of all the negative things going in our lives, and in the world, Jesus is still Lord and God’s ultimate will is being carried out.  Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  In the Greek it is (panta sunergei) which has the idea that it is God who makes all things work together for our good according to his purposes. I think it was Barclay that said things work together can also be translated to intermingle. So, Gods purpose, though we do not always understand it, can intermingle all things together by somehow making those things we don’t understand useful for his purpose, and for our good, according to accomplish his ultimate will.

So, we must walk by faith, having hope, confidence, and love for God, knowing that He is accomplishing His will, for our good, in all our lives because he loves us. Even in the midst of persecution. This is costly and easy to say but it takes real faith to endure. Which is the faith Jesus expects us all to have.