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b'Reading today\\u2019s verses, I wonder how I would respond if I were arrested and put on trial for my faith. I hope I would respond like Polycarp\\u2014a believer from the second century church.\\nAccording to church historians, Polycarp was a \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153secondgeneration\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Christian who heard the gospel from the apostle John. He became a leader in the church of Smyrna, which often faced heavy persecution from the Roman Empire. When Polycarp was in his eighties, he had to flee Smyrna and go into hiding, but the Romans found him anyway. When soldiers came to the door, Polycarp let them in and then called for food and drink for his enemies. He went with them peacefully to his public trial in the stadium of Smyrna.\\nThe Romans required citizens to sacrifice to the emperor, but Polycarp would not. He refused to worship Caesar (who was merely a man) and deny that Jesus was Lord.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I will throw you to the wild beasts!\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d the consul said.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Send for them,\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d Polycarp answered.\\n\\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I will send you to the fire!\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d the consul threatened. \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Swear allegiance to Caesar and I will release you. Curse the Christ!\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nPolycarp replied, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Eighty and six years have I served Christ, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my King who has saved me? You threaten the fire that burns for an hour and then is quenched; but you know not of the fire of the judgment to come, and the fire of the eternal punishment. Bring what you will.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nPolycarp wasn\\u2019t afraid of those who could kill the body but not the soul, and he trusted Jesus to raise his body from the dead when He returns. Polycarp followed the example of his Savior: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153Because of the joy awaiting him, he [Jesus] endured the cross, disregarding its shame\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (Hebrews 12:2). Someday all believers will share that joy for all eternity, when Jesus returns to bring His kingdom to fruition here on earth and we get to live with Him forever. \\u2022 Laura N. Sweet\\n\\u2022 Why did Polycarp say he remained loyal to Jesus? What does this reveal about God? \\n\\u2022 Polycarp\\u2019s peace and courage came from God, who lived inside Him through His Holy Spirit. And, if you know Jesus, the same Holy Spirit lives in you! How might this truth encourage you? \\nJesus told her, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d John 11:25 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nMark 8:31-38; Luke 18:31-34; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58; Revelation 21:1-4'