Suffering

1 Peter 4:16 (NIV)

But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed.

In this day and age, people are suffering for all kinds of reasons. Some are suffering for being conservatives, while others for being liberals, and yet others for self-inflicted misery. Unfortunately, God is not with any of them. They may all pray, attend church, consider themselves Christians, and be doing all the "Christian" things. But when people use God's Name to advance their political and personal agenda, be it nationalism or socialism or something in between, God is not with them and will not bless such efforts. In such cases, their suffering is entirely on them. But true believers who suffer for proclaiming the Name of the Lord without indulging in political stunts like preventing officers and public servants from doing their duty, or trying to establish a "Christian" nation, but focus solely on building up the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, even if they suffer, have an eternal reward. Amen.