Good Company

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matt 5:11-12 (NKJV)  

Have you suffered persecution for the sake of Christ?  Probably not...at least, not much.  We are privileged to live in a nation that allows religious freedom.  There are many Christians living in other parts of the world who are not so privileged.   For them, claiming to be followers of Christ might even put their lives at risk.  They are in good company.

The Heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews, Chapter 12, also faced persecution.  The writer of Hebrews describes some of what they faced: "...others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.   Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth."  Heb 11:35-38 (NKJV)  This all sounds pretty challenging.

It almost doesn't seem fair...that "we" would face little or no persecution, while brothers and sisters around the world face persecution and martyrdom.  God, being just, does have something in mind for those that are persecuted--He is saving a great reward for them in heaven.  Keep in mind that this reward is coming from the God who is able and ready to give gifts that are beyond what we can even conceive of or imagine!  Keep this thought in mind: Many of the Bible heroes were not rescued or rewarded while they were alive.  They had to wait until the next life.  Not everything in your life will prove to be fair or "nice" to you; however God will reward you in the life to come.

Prayer: "Dear Heavenly Father, we know that you are great and that you are preparing an amazing place in Your heavenly kingdom for those that are persecuted for Your Name's sake.   Thank you for the freedom that allows me to worship You openly.   Lord, may I use this freedom to proclaim Your Gospel  in a way that is both loving and  convincing to those that do not know You."  Amen