“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Tertullian
Do you work out? There’s a phrase often found on the wall of the local gym. It says “No pain, no gain.” It’s a reminder to the people working out that if they aren’t experiencing some sort of pain, they may not be working out hard enough. They can only gain strength by feeling a little bit of pain in the process. It’s through that pain that they see dividends for their work.
Read 2 Timothy 3:12. It’s no secret when reading Scripture that if we hold fast to what Christ has called us to, that we will experience persecution. But how can God use this pain for His gain? An Early Church leader named Tertullian once said, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” What he meant by this statement is that every time someone gave his or her life, or bled for the church, it seemed to expand God’s Kingdom more rapidly, instead of slowing it down.
The truth is that God uses persecution as a way to spread the Good News.
Think about it, you don’t often see news stories about the guy who lived a comfortable normal life, ate simple food, had a safe and normal job, and never made any waves . . . instead we hear about people who overcame obstacles and overwhelming odds to achieve their dreams or goals. God doesn’t waste pain. He will use our pain for His gain if we will let Him.
Think About This...
- How have you seen God use a situation that seemed discouraging for His gain?
- How are you experiencing pain in your own life?
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