"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:" (2nd Thessaloniahs 1:3-5)

There is a common misconception among many Christians today. This misconception is further perpetuated by poor doctrine being taught in the "pop culture church." The idea that we can determine how much God is blessing us by how comfortable our lives are is a concept exactly opposite of what is taught in Scripture.

Our material wealth or comfort may or may not be related to the blessings of God.

Take for instance this passage from 2nd Thessalonians. Here, Paul plainly states that the persecution these young Christians are called upon to bear is a "manifest token" of their worth in Christ. Jesus taught the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount when he explained that it was a blessing to persecuted for doing the right thing.

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)

While it may not "feel good" to have people verbally or physically attack you, it is definitely VERY CLEAR that they are against you. If the reason they are against you is that you are following Christ, then you can be assured of your hope of salvation because that is how wicked people have always treated the children of God.

Rather running to the news media to cry our case, or even looking to the federal government to "protect us," we should do what Jesus said to do. REJOICE! This is a clear evidence that we are the elect children of God and we WILL be with Him in glory!

HALLELUJAH!!