(Day 17)
In the following verse, Jesus
continues speaking about the persecution and rejection that will suffer those
who believe in Him.
(Matthew 5:11-12) Blessed
are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your
reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before
you.
God doesn’t sugar coat things to make
us feel good. He speaks the truth to us, he tells it as it is. The Lord speaks
about blessing and prosperity, but also about affliction and persecution. One
does not exclude the other. They are all an integral part of a believer’s life.
(John 16:33) I have said these things to
you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But
take heart; I have overcome the world.
The Lord speaks about persecution
with complete authority, because He also suffered it. He set the example for us
by facing rejection, and even death. Also the Disciples of Christ and the
prophets went through persecution.
(John 15:19-21) If you were of the world, the
world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I
chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word
that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they
persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will
also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my
name, because they do not know him who sent me.
Even if we suffer persecution, we are
able to face it because we know there is a greater purpose behind it.
(Luke 21:12-19) But before all this they will
lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues
and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's
sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in
your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a
mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or
contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives
and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all
for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance
you will gain your lives.
(2 Corinthians 4:8-10) We are afflicted in every
way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death
of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
It surely gives us comfort to know
that there will be a reward for those who faithfully and meekly endure
persecution.
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18) For this light momentary
affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all
comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that
are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are
unseen are eternal.
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| nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God... |
It is very important to stay focused,
so that we don’t let persecution separate us or distance us from God; if
anything, it should compel us to seek Him more.
(Romans 8:35-39) Who shall separate us from
the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are
being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things
present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else
in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
PRAYER
Lord, You did not promise that life
in this world would be perfect. On the contrary, you told us that we would face
opposition and rejection for believing in You. But the affliction in this world
will be light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory of an
eternal life with You. I will not look to the things that are seen and
transient, but to the things that are unseen and eternal.
Lord, I understand that we will go through
anguish and affliction in this world. But this sorrow will turn into joy, just
like a woman no longer remembers the anguish of giving birth when she has
delivered her child. Even when we suffer persecution, our hearts will rejoice
when we see you again, and no one will take this eternal joy from us.
Lord, nothing shall separate me from
You… not persecution, nor distress, nor tribulation. In all these things I will
be more than conqueror because You will help me. For I am sure that neither
death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate me from Your love.
[2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans
8:35-39; John 16:20-22]
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