“Whatever It Be; If It Is In God’s Will!”

“Whatever It Be; If It Is In God’s Will!”(I Pt.3:14-18).
Dear LORD, I Face this new day with the confidence that your will will lead me to where your love will prompt me!
Any authoritative and repressive regime in any historical time that silences criticism and enforces peace through brute force, coercion, and intimidation passes on this one message: “The emperor is lord!”
Emperor worship challenges the Lordship of Christ and Christians either face the wrath of the emperor and declare that “Jesus is Lord,” or hang their tails between their legs, bend their heads in shame as they mutter, “the emperor is lord.”
Can this be what has prompted the author of this quote I’m still pondering?:
“I have witnessed how close ties between ecclesiastical institutions and political powers can compromise the Church’s prophetic voice 🤔”
This author seems not to know that table manners require you not to speak with food in your mouth.
When the early Christians were faced with the choice of either saying, “Caesar is lord,” and be spared, or to insist that “Jesus is Lord,” and be persecuted, Peter had these words of encouragement: “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
Such socio-political seasons are frequent in African countries, and it is left for the Christians not to fear their threats and not be frightened to speak for Christ and act for him.
It is true that we have to do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience. But sometimes our gentleness becomes cowardly if our consciences have been compromised!
Sometimes, it is good to be a prisoner without a crime than for committing the sin of silence and be responsible for the suffering pain of the majority!
Christ was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
My friend, in this world, we are bound to suffer persecution, but if we should suffer for doing what is right, we are blessed.
So, therefore, “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. Be confident of the hope that you have. “It is better if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
Remember this big secret: “In your heart revere Christ as Lord.”
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit, empower and embolden us to be the gospel in the face of persecution. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
22/11/2025.