Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5: 11, 12, NKJV
Heavenly Father, we are grateful that wherever we are gathered to study Your word You have promised to come among us. Please fulfill this promise to us today, we pray. For Christ’s sake; Amen
Today our promise is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. To many, these teachings of Jesus are known as the Beatitudes. I looked up this word and found the following definition: “heavenly happiness: the perfect happiness and inner peace supposed to be enjoyed by the soul in heaven.” “bliss: extreme happiness and serenity” (Encarta, World English Dictionary). This is what Jesus has promised to those, who, “for His sake,” are persecuted.
Persecution is not a sought after situation. No one, I dare say, in their right minds, would normally, go “seeking” to be persecuted; not even the prophets! Scripture tells us that when Jezebel killed God’s prophets, “Obadiah took a hundred prophets, [and] hid them fifty to a cave” (1 Kings 18: 4). Emphasis provided. The normal reaction is to hide from persecution.
When the prophet Elijah called the Israelites back to the worship of the true God, he gave the order to kill all of the prophets of Baal, and the people obeyed. Jezebel was infuriated, and took an oath to kill the prophet. When Elijah became aware of her threat, the Bible says, he “fled for his life,” and asked the Lord to “take away [his] life” (1 Kings 18: 39, 40- 19: 1-4, NRSV). That is the normal reaction of one who is persecuted. We flinch from it because it does not feel good. It is very normal, very human, to want to be liked, and appreciated. We were created with the ability to respond to kindness. And in a perfect world, where sin did not exist, there was no persecution. When God makes all things new, persecution will cease to be.
But because Jesus knew that living godly lives in a sinful world could cause persecution (2 Timothy 3: 12), and in many cases would; He left us this antidote, which, of course, is easier preached, than practiced: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ” How is this possible? Where do we get the strength to rejoice in the midst of affliction and rejection? Just remember:
1) You are “blessed.” And when God blesses, no one can reverse it (Numbers 23: 20). If you can only maintain your focus, in the midst of the persecution, and not lose sight of the only One who has already forgiven your past, and who holds your future in His hand, you will be able to endure!
2) You are falsely accused. The apostle Peter admonishes us to make sure that the accusation is false (1 Peter 4: 12-16). Remember, the only way they were able to bring charges against Jesus to be able to crucify Him, was by bringing false accusations against Him. You are in the best of company!
3) It is for Christ’s sake. Jesus warned us beforehand, you can be sure that if they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also (John 15: 20, 21). Just remember, He walked this way before you, and He will walk it again, with you.
Therefore, as hard as it is at times, rejoice! You are blessed!