While I was visiting the Russian Far East, I had a conversation with my friend Lena that I will not soon forget. She is an excellent student and works at a Christian radio station in Magadan. Since becoming a believer in Christ in 1994, she has enjoyed remarkable spiritual growth.

Like most Russians, Lena has much hope, but she is also realistic about what could happen in her changing land. As we talked about the future of her country, she looked me in the eye and said with unsettling candor, “I am preparing myself for persecution.”

I had two reactions when she said those words. The first was a chill I felt as I matched what I know about Russian political history with this young believer’s realistic outlook. The second was to look seriously into my own heart. I realized that I hadn’t been preparing to suffer for Christ. The thought had never even crossed my mind!

In 1 Peter 3, the apostle wanted to prepare Christians for the threat of persecution that faced them daily. He instructed them to live a life marked by love and free from evil (vv.8-12). If persecution still came, Peter knew it would be better “to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (v.17).

Am I prepared to suffer for doing good? Are you?