¹⁷ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” ¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. ²⁰ God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

1 Peter 1:17-20

Dear God, my first response to this passage from Peter was to say that I just don’t think about my eternal reward when I wake up in the morning or make my decisions about how to act or whether to worship you during the day. I just don’t think about it. Honestly, if I just lived and our souls died when we die I’d be okay with that.

But then I got to thinking about Peter’s audience. I got to thinking about the people around the world who currently suffer for you and your name. Their faith costs them pain and suffering. If that were my life, then, yes, I can see where I would need a reason to intentionally accept suffering in this present life. It’s very smug of me to say that I don’t need eternal glory or rewards to follow you because, honestly, following you in my present life not only doesn’t cost me anything but it also plays to my advantage to some extent. So in some ways, I get rewards now for living for you in my current culture.

Father, I am sorry I do not better appreciate the suffering of other Christians around the world. I don’t pray for them enough. I don’t pray for the people persecuting them at all. Perhaps it’s a lack of empathy. I had a friend tell me yesterday about a personal tragedy that I’ve experienced myself in the past. Tears came to my eyes as she told me about it. Why? Because I could empathize with her, at least to some extent. It took me back to the pain I felt, and I hope that just my ability to relate and offer heartfelt sympathy was at least a little bit of a comfort to her. So for my brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering or afraid for their lives because of their faith, I pray that they will have a great place in your kingdom. I will gladly serve them one day. I pray for their persecutors. Give them eyes to see. Stop them in their tracks. Bring them to repentance and a place where they will submit to you. Please reveal to me if there is anything I should be doing to glorify you in the lives of others today. Show me how to encourage. Show me how to love. Show me how to sympathize beyond my ability to relate.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen