We, Christians, live in a world where we are tried every day for “the hope and resurrection.” For our hope relies on our Heavenly Father, not on any transitory element of this world. It is not the death of the Lord Jesus Christ that causes such consternation among the worldly; it is His resurrection. We who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (and our own future resurrection) often meet stern resistance, even violent attack as a result. But the Lord is at our side, just as He was at Paul’s, saying, “Take courage for you are witnesses to My cause and there is more witnessing to do.” Paul’s most fruitful days of witnessing were still ahead of this momentary trial—and, so is yours. Selah