2 Timothy 3:12

"Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Within the past week, this verse has become a reality for me. I have now been physically attacked twice here in Marseille. The first occurrence was by a man while I was walking to my apartment from the market one evening. I was able to fight him off and get to my apartment safely. The second time, I was not as fortunate. I was attacked by a group of men and beaten to the ground. The men kept shouting at me in French, so I had no clue what they were saying. They robbed me of my money (which was thankfully only ten Euros), and made a getaway. As they scattered I shouted one of the few phrases I know in French,"Jesus vous aime", which means "Jesus loves you". One of them men turned and gave me a look of confusion. He continued to stare at me with this dazed look for a few seconds until another man corralled him and they took off. I was a bit sore the next day, but I'm feeling fine now with no problems.

It was clearly by God's grace that I spoke those final words to the men as they ran off. Please pray for this man that was so startled by what God spoke through my mouth. Pray that God would transform his heart and mold him into a laborer for Christ.

Romans 8:18 delivers a promise that has been so encouraging in my walk with Christ during these past few days.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."