who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Shielded
It was imperative or the early church to feel that God was protecting them. However, that is hard to establish in the rise of persecution. So, how are people who are shielded able to die? They are shielded from things happening to them that God does not will. Each thing that happens to a Christian is because it is allowed. Isn’t that sadistic? One only has to look at the wounds of Christ to see what an intentional lifting of God’s protection looks like. Jesus’ wounds are deep and horrific to a degree that directly relates with the importance of what they achieved. Although the Christian is protected from pointless persecution, some suffering points to truths that are directly related to the depth of the pain experienced.
In some ways I wish that I had been shielded more from harsh words and criticism. However, I would not have developed my present strength if I had not had to deal with the weakness they helped create. However, God has shielded me from being given more than I can bear. His lovingkindness to his children means that he shields them from anything that will not be productive. In the same way, my wife and I shield my children from some things. We redirect them in ways that they are not aware of. We remove potential obstacles. However, we allow our children’s choices to have their natural consequences when we know they will learn from the pain.
God’s ability to shield is connected to his omnipotence. God is infinite in power and therefore we need not be afraid. Nothing can assail us that our father, who loves us, has not allowed. We will not need shielding forever, though. One day we will be plucked out of harm’s way and we will be placed upon a rock for eternity where sin and death no longer exist. We will need no protection because the opposition to goodness and truth will be done.
Prayer
Thank you God that you shield me. I sometimes feel vulnerable and react to whatever you let reach me that hurts me. However, I do not give any thought to what you have filtered and resisted. Your power holds your shield in place and nothing has any chance of taking my shield away. I am safe.
Questions
- How did early Christians need shielding?
- How would you explain being shielded and enduring persecution at the same time?
- When will our need to be shielded end?
- From what do you need shielding?
- How does God shield you?
- Pray for shielding.
Plymothian 
The early Christians needed shielding physically, but most importantly spiritually and mentally and emotionally. They needed supernatural protection against the schemes of the evil one and the mental and emotional protection of Christ by knowing the truth in their minds and hearts. I love how you put that God will not allow us to suffer persecution in vain, because it is for a greater reason. & we see that the early Christians, although suffered horrendously, had supernatural peace that brought joy in their souls for living for Christ and dying for Him. I believe that even this is a shield that the world cannot offer.
Psalm 5:11-12 says, “But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them every sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,, You surround him with favor as with a shield.”
I’ve been studying the psalms lately and the main theme thus far seems to be the contrast between the righteous and the wicked. In every one of the last four psalms I’ve studied, David, the author, has petitioned God to protect him from his enemies, from God’s enemies- the wicked. To know that this same God can physically protect me from persecution, can protect me from the evil influence of the wicked, can protect me from those desiring my physical or spiritual/moral downfall is comforting to say the least. God IS watching out for me . To know that God also shields me from the evil in me, He protects me from myself is also helpful.
In order to appreciate this truth more, I think I need to remind myself what it means that God is protecting me. Jesus is my protector against the evil one’s accusations and God the Father’s just wrath. Just as a shield wards off the arrows sent it’s way, so God fights for His people and defends them. He suffered the worst suffering, so that they wouldn’t have to. God never stops working on behalf of His people. He is the great warrior, the committed lover.
Early Christians needed shielding from physical danger as they were hunted regularly. Shielding needed to happen to be able to see the gospel spread throughout the land. Early Christians also needed to be shielded spiritually as their was much evil and heresy about the land, comparable to today.
Being persecuted and shielded at the same time could look like: The persecution could always be worse. If we are still alive God is shielding us. Their are things everyday that we don’t know God is protecting us from.
I believe our shielding will not be needed when we get to heaven, which could be interpretated out of the above verse. Mostly I need shielding from myself on a daily basis. Through others, the Word, and way’s i don’t understand or know about God is protecting me.
The early Christians were faced n in the midst of suffering the believer can be shielded from despair, depression, and purposelessness. Sometimes hard and bad things happen to believers. But even these things are promised by God to be used for something greater. While our bodies and physical comfort are important, ultimately their damage is the least powerful. Attack on our mind, emotions, our spirit–this is what destroys a person. I think this is one of the big ways in which God is our shield while allowing bad things to happen. These are the things which I need shielded from the most.