'When The Going Gets Tough'

(Encouraging Helps From 1st Peter)

Peter wrote this “ First Epistle,” in a rough situation which he rightly suspected would get tougher.

You see what happened was this. In July AD 64 the great fire of Rome broke out, and the city of Rome was badly destroyed.

The emperor Nero, was widely suspected of arson but managed to divert suspicion from himself to the Christians.

The result ? A savage outbreak of persecution began. So it is to this letter of encouragement that I want to direct your mind to.

We could write across these opening verses “ Persecuted but not forsaken.”