I am loved nonetheless
Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’.
It is not always easy being a Christian. In our day many have little or even no idea what being a Christian actually involves on a day to day basis. That you go to church, or call yourself a Christian may be a nice private hobby, but has little to do with anyone else. And if we start to appear relevant to what is happening in life we are immediately criticized for telling other people what to do! And yet, the closer we walk with Jesus the more we discover the gentleness and grace of God’s love for us all. St Paul had been through far more ‘persecution’ and other trials on Jesus’ account than we are likely to. Yet do you know what? Through it all he became more and more ‘convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love’. We won’t be the first Christians to be looked down on in this upside down world, but we are immensely loved nonetheless, and indeed are still called in Christ’s name to go on sharing that immense love with those around us, whatever comes against us.