"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." (Mathew 5:10-12)
I know what you're thinking; you're thinking:
"Wait a minute! Hold your horses! I want to grow in Christ-like character, but suffering persecution? Is THAT part of what I signed up for?? I really didn't count on THAT being part of the package!"
Sooooo, the answer to your question is
Yes! If you develop the attitudes we've been talking about in the Beatitudes of Mathew 5:1-9, then the end result will most assuredly be to suffer persecution.
Why?
Well, the truth is, that as you succeed in becoming more holy in character, the powers of darkness will know that you are succeeding in furthering God's kingdom, and THAT will cause Satan and his angels to bring into your life situations of suffering.
HOWEVER, Satan does this only at God’s permission and within God’s appointed limits.
This is made clear in Daniel 2:20:
“Daniel answered and said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings.’”
And Daniel 4:17, “The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”
So where does all that leave us Christians today?
"For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29).
“For this is commendable, if because of conscience towards God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully” (1 Peter 2:19).
And to drive this truth even farther, those aren't the only places in the Bible that God promises you "the blessing" of suffering persecution. Jesus continues this assurance in John 15:20: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
And in 2 Timothy 3:12, the promise is spelled out again: “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
You say: "Well, why doesn't God stop me from being persecuted?"
The answer to that is simple. The Church thrives in the midst of persecution, and it becomes packed out with fair-weather Christians when it is NOT suffering persecution.
Moreover, Christians are called to be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).
We are called to reflect the attitudes in the Beatitudes EVEN WHEN we find ourselves in the midst of suffering persecution for the sake of Christ.
Yes, Christians are to live as examples of Christ's character even under difficult circumstances. Paul told us this when he addressed the followers of Jesus who suffered in his day:
“And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe”
(1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).
How should a Christian feel about suffering for God’s Kingdom?
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
(Hebrews 12:2)
Sooooooo, are you looking forward to suffering persecution?
Probably not. I know I'm not, but if Jesus promised that my sufferings can't even compare to my eternal reward, I'm choosing to believe Him. He can see the big picture, the whole picture, even though I can't.
Oh, Lord, apart from You I can do nothing. Thank You for being the Author and Finisher of my faith.
