“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:9-13
I read news from the online site of Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) and recently it seems like more and more, people speaking the Truth and sharing their faith are openly in the crosshairs of this fallen world. Have you found yourself being opposed recently for speaking the Truth? Do you feel pressured to just keep silent or walk away?
I read a devotion last week that said when we feel pressured by the sin filled world because we are children of God and love Jesus and other people don’t, there are three things to remember. First, facing opposition can make you more like Jesus. If you’re going to mature and be like Jesus Christ, you’re going to have to go through the things Jesus went through, including loneliness, discouragement, stress, and temptation. Why would God spare you when he didn’t spare his own Son from those things? Be more Christlike.
Next, facing and confronting opposition will deepen your faith. Your faith is like a muscle. A muscle doesn’t grow when you sit in your recliner and eat popcorn. A muscle grows by being stretched, strained, and tested. Be in the Word. You’re never going to grow a muscle if no weight is ever pulling in the opposite direction. If you don’t have opposition in your life, your faith is not growing. The strongest believers in the world right now are those who are having their faith tested the most. The school kids in Haiti who are benefiting from a Trinity HOPE meal daily are growing muscle for their future test in restarting a new Haiti.
And lastly, opposition will lead to eternal rewards. Get ready for Eternity. Our Heavenly Father is going to bless everyone who’s been persecuted for living for him. You will not get rewarded for being rude or obnoxious. You get rewarded for being like Jesus. When you live out your faith, do it with gentleness and respect, just like Jesus, and you will be rewarded for it one day in Heaven.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay