The Story of Perpetua

 READ: DANIEL 3:1-30; JOHN 14:27; ROMANS 8:34-39; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-28

"Do you see this vase here?” she asked. “Could it be called by any other name than what it is?”

“No,” her father replied.

“Well, neither can I be called anything other than what I am, a Christian.”

Perpetua, a devoted follower of Christ, uttered these words in the year 203 AD, mere days before she was asked to recant her faith. The faith she would eventually die for.

When Perpetua was brought before the governor, she refused to deny Christ or offer the required sacrifice to the emperor. As a result, she was sentenced to death in the arena. While awaiting her punishment in her prison cell, she was allowed to nurse her infant. Her father, who did not know Jesus, begged her to renounce her faith for the sake of her child, but she would not.

Only days later, Perpetua and a group of other brave Christians were led into the stadium and attacked by wild beasts in front of a roaring crowd. Though they didn’t die from their wounds, the faithful group was later killed by the sword.

This account of Perpetua’s and her friends’ uncommon bravery inspired me. I can’t imagine the terror this young woman faced, and yet she stood firm in her faith, never backing down, though the consequence of such a decision was death. What gave Perpetua such courage? Where did her confidence come from?

Perpetua was aware of and comforted by God’s presence. Though she was undoubtedly afraid, Perpetua stood on the promises of God. It wasn’t Perpetua’s determination or confidence in herself that carried her through her last days, but her confidence in her God. She knew that He is stronger even than death— Jesus defeated death by His own death and resurrection. Although death is a heartbreaking result of brokenness in the world, we don’t have to be afraid of it because we know that Jesus will return to resurrect us from the dead to live eternally with Him.

If you ever find yourself in a difficult situation, remember that Jesus is always with you, and His promises will always stand firm. • Eliana Canfield

• Sharing the gospel begins with understanding that you need the gospel and then understanding that others do too. How can you lovingly share the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus?

Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34 (NLT)