Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label persecution. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2013
Worth Repeating
Matthew 5:10 (KJV) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
As we approach the last Beatitude we find perhaps the greatest paradox of all the statements that Jesus made in this discourse, “Joyful Persecution.” That’s what He is telling us. We are blessed and should count it joy when we are persecuted for Christ’s sake.
This statement is so shocking that Jesus felt like He needed to repeat it. So He continues in verse 11,
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Notice that in verse 10 the discourse is kept in the third person, “Blessed are they” but now Jesus changes to the second person, “Blessed are you”. There is no mistaking that this blessing is meant for each and every one of us. It’s personal.
We like having a personal savior, a personal salvation, a personal healing, a personal blessing but I haven’t found any that enjoy real, up-close persecution. When it comes it seems the first thing on our mind is how to make it go away. But Jesus is telling us that it is a blessing when men insult us, persecute us, lie about us, and say all kinds of evil things about us. I can tell you. I have had my share of all those things and it does not come naturally to count them blessings. We think of how to get payback, how to make it stop, how to get even, or how to defend ourselves but the farthest thing from our mind is “Wow! I am really blessed.”
If you are under attack today, your good is being spoken of as evil, your reputation is being maligned, and lies are being told about you, remember that all those things were done to Jesus. Stop for moment, lift your head and count it a blessing that you have been chosen to walk in His footsteps.
Friday, August 23, 2013
The God of All Comfort
Matthew 5:4 (KJV) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Today I would like you to consider the Apostle Paul. Here was a man that never knew if he was going to be alive the next day. Compassed about on every hand by those that would like to kill or imprison him. Pressed daily by the enemies of the cross. Persecuted by those that disagreed with his theology. His enemies were many and they were powerful. Yet, Paul could be found in all places, at all times, praising and glorifying the Lord Jesus. We find him in prison with Silas twisted in the cruel stocks of the Romans singing praises to God. We find him in the midst of a storm that was about to leave him ship wrecked encouraging those around him to trust in the Lord. Paul was not a victim of his circumstances. Oh no! Paul seemed to rise above his circumstances with purpose and clarity that defied explanation. Men and women like Paul walk into disastrous situations with calm assurance and bring clarity and comfort to those around them.
As a police officer, I was dispatched to many situations where civility and calm had broken down into chaos. When you walk into a bar or home and people are beating each other or threatening each others with weapons the last thing that is needed is another hot head. You can’t have a melt down and feel sorry for yourself because your perfect day has been interrupted by this overwhelming problem, so, you rely on your training and knowledge to bring calm, comfort, to the situation. It always helps to know that there are 500 more police officers to back you up. Your response is from a position of strength. You never stand alone. Walking with Jesus is like that. He said that “Anything you ask in my name the Father will give it to you.” (John 15:16) He said, “I will never leave you”. We can depend on God to be with us as we face the storm.
In our passage today Jesus tells His disciples, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” This week we have spent much time discerning the blessedness of mourning our sin. The emptying of self establishes the foundation for the filling of our souls with the Spirit of the Living God. “You are not your own, you were bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19) This is the comfort, the peace, which passes all understanding. I’m not here trying to figure out a path to victory. I am here to follow Jesus! I am here to obey His command! He will lead me beside still waters! He will restore my soul! We cry out with Job, “Though God slay me yet I trust Him…He also shall be my salvation.” (Job 13:15) We can stand in calm assurance even though our enemies rage like a roaring lion.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our tribulation…” On this journey we may find ourselves ship wrecked, imprisoned, cast out of town, cast down into a pit, compassed on every side, but no matter what may come our way we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Why? Because He loves us! He died for us! He rescued us! He restores us! Child of God know this, there is nothing too hard for God and there is no where that He cannot go, that He will not go, for you. I don’t know about you but I feel like praising His name!
Today I would like you to consider the Apostle Paul. Here was a man that never knew if he was going to be alive the next day. Compassed about on every hand by those that would like to kill or imprison him. Pressed daily by the enemies of the cross. Persecuted by those that disagreed with his theology. His enemies were many and they were powerful. Yet, Paul could be found in all places, at all times, praising and glorifying the Lord Jesus. We find him in prison with Silas twisted in the cruel stocks of the Romans singing praises to God. We find him in the midst of a storm that was about to leave him ship wrecked encouraging those around him to trust in the Lord. Paul was not a victim of his circumstances. Oh no! Paul seemed to rise above his circumstances with purpose and clarity that defied explanation. Men and women like Paul walk into disastrous situations with calm assurance and bring clarity and comfort to those around them.
As a police officer, I was dispatched to many situations where civility and calm had broken down into chaos. When you walk into a bar or home and people are beating each other or threatening each others with weapons the last thing that is needed is another hot head. You can’t have a melt down and feel sorry for yourself because your perfect day has been interrupted by this overwhelming problem, so, you rely on your training and knowledge to bring calm, comfort, to the situation. It always helps to know that there are 500 more police officers to back you up. Your response is from a position of strength. You never stand alone. Walking with Jesus is like that. He said that “Anything you ask in my name the Father will give it to you.” (John 15:16) He said, “I will never leave you”. We can depend on God to be with us as we face the storm.
In our passage today Jesus tells His disciples, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” This week we have spent much time discerning the blessedness of mourning our sin. The emptying of self establishes the foundation for the filling of our souls with the Spirit of the Living God. “You are not your own, you were bought with a price.” (1 Cor. 6:19) This is the comfort, the peace, which passes all understanding. I’m not here trying to figure out a path to victory. I am here to follow Jesus! I am here to obey His command! He will lead me beside still waters! He will restore my soul! We cry out with Job, “Though God slay me yet I trust Him…He also shall be my salvation.” (Job 13:15) We can stand in calm assurance even though our enemies rage like a roaring lion.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our tribulation…” On this journey we may find ourselves ship wrecked, imprisoned, cast out of town, cast down into a pit, compassed on every side, but no matter what may come our way we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Why? Because He loves us! He died for us! He rescued us! He restores us! Child of God know this, there is nothing too hard for God and there is no where that He cannot go, that He will not go, for you. I don’t know about you but I feel like praising His name!
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