It all happened just as Jesus said it would. The Book of Acts records how Peter and John were arrested and beaten, and how James was put to death with a sword. John wrote the Book of Revelation from an island called Patmos, where he was sent into exile. The tradition of the Church fills in more details, explaining how all of them died in one way or another rather than to deny their faith in Jesus.

And the persecution of Christians continues today. We all remember the 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded by ISIS on a beach in Libya. Chinese Christians continue to be arrested because they want to meet without government oversight. Nigerian Christians are regularly killed and evicted from their homes by Muslims.

And as American culture moves further away from Christian morals and ethics, Christians can expect the same sort of treatment in the days to come. It’s already the case that Christian bakers and florists are being fined for refusing to participate in same-sex weddings. Roman Catholic agencies are being denied the opportunity to place children for adoption if they do not accommodate same-sex couples. Who knows what will come next?

The good news is that we do not need to live in fear. Jesus has told us what to expect. He has told us that, by the power of His Holy Spirit, He will help us say the right thing when the time comes. But in the meantime, we are to be innocent as doves – not giving in to the pressure to conform to the ways of the world. At the same time, we are to be wise as serpents – there’s no need for us to go looking for trouble or trying to provoke confrontations.

In short, we are to live the Christian life of integrity and purity in a wicked world, shining the light of Christ into the darkness, confident that Jesus will help us in the midst of any consequences that come our way as a result of our faithfulness to Him. And who knows? Maybe if suffering comes our way as a result of our faith, others will be convinced of the truth of Christ when they see how much He means to us.

Matthew 10:16-31 (NASB)

16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.
17 “But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues;
18 and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 “But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak.
20 “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 “And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 “And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
23 “But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
25 “It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 “Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
28 “And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 “Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.”