Wanting persecution....

Thanks for the link to the video Ervina.  If you get a change watch the last five minutes of this interview where the discussion comes up about the place of suffering in the Christians life.  A lot of people say that they wish for persecution in order to see the church come alive.  2 Tim. 3:12, "...All who are Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."  If we are living in the battle persecution will come in its time.  However, as Mr. Chan says, hard times are not something we should seek for its own sake, but as we give of our time and resources we will face persecution and suffering which will draw us to God.  I guess it's pretty hard to give to point of suffering like Jesus did.  As humans we rarely face persecution when we have a means of escape.
       
Jesus gave up his life to persecution at a time when he wouldn't have had to.  He could have generally followed God (maybe not specifically following God's plan for his life) and lived a Godly life without dying, but he chose to give to the point of death.  For people who desire persecution there is plenty of places on earth today that we can go and experience suffering.  The question is, are we willing to give of ourselves voluntarily like Jesus did or only suffer persecution when we have no other option?

The real question is whether we are following God's call for our life.  It was God's plan to have the Apostle John die on the island of Patmos rather than suffer a brutal death like Peter.  If God has placed you in a situation where you are not persecuted for your faith, thank God for these blessings.  Beg God to light your heart on fire in a passionate relationship with him rather than thinking that you will inherently miss out on some of God's blessings because you are not being persecuted.  I believe that more than likely God has the blessing of persecution planned for you sometime in your journey (see vs. 2 Tim. 3:12), but if God isn't calling you to be persecuted right now, thank God for this.

Although God may not be calling you specifically to a life of persecution, I believe he is calling each of us to a sacrificial life of giving--giving till it hurts.  One of my favorite songs says, "Let me burn out for thee O God."  Are we willing to give ourselves for the kingdom to the extent that at the end of our lives we cross the finished line totally exhausted, having given all we have.