WEEK 14

P r ay e r

“The Blessing of Persecution” Thank you, Lord, that we live in a country where we’re free to worship. Help me to rejoice in
what’s truly important and to be faithful should I face persecution.
by Laeton Pang

Memory Verses: Matthew 5:11-12

“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 T u e s d ay
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

“You’re too religious. Patients wouldn’t appreciate that,” said my medical school interviewer
as he summarily dismissed me from his office. I wish I could say that Jesus’ words in Matthew
5:11-12 had provided me with comfort. Truthfully, I was feeling sorrier for myself than thinking
about heavenly rewards. God was gracious, however, and I was accepted into medical school
the following year.

Paul tells us in II Timothy 3:12 that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will W e d n e s d ay
be persecuted.” Jesus reminds the disciples in John 15:20, “If they persecuted me, they will
persecute you also.” Dave Stotts (Drive Thru History) and others have argued that faithfulness
despite persecution was a major factor in how the early church grew so rapidly.

The author of Hebrews expands on how God’s people suffered for their faith (Hebrews 11:32-
37), including that “others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they may gain a
better resurrection (v. 35).” Persecution, including martyrdom, is still a prominent feature of
Christian life in some parts of the world, although American Christians have largely escaped
persecution because our country’s forefathers had the wisdom to include freedom of religion T h u r s d ay
as a first amendment right.

I find the contrast striking in the beatitudes between how Jesus defines being blessed
and what most think when we say “God has blessed me.” Beatitudes are declarations of
blessedness. It’s easy to lose the eternal perspective of what blessings are because we’re so
materially rich in this country. Jesus underscores what’s really important when he corrects
the disciples in Luke 10:20: “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your
names are written in heaven.”
F r i d ay
Whatever heaven’s like we can be sure that it’s a great place where we’ll live in direct
communion with God for eternity in heavenly bodies not subject to sadness, sickness or death
(Revelation 21:3, 4). In the beatitudes, Jesus says that there will be rewards in heaven for how
we lived here on earth. In Matthew 6:19 and 20 He warns, “Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Forever is a long time. There’s no comparison between infinity versus two days, five months or
even 120 years. What’s a little suffering and sacrifice relative to the long-term gain?

Under Armor For All Believers