Bible Reading: Luke 6
Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Jesus pronounced a blessing on those men hate because of Jesus’ sake. Isn’t it amazing that this is the group he blessed. But he was hated by this world and he promised his followers that they too would be hated by this world. Jesus said men would do these things:
· Men will hate you
· Men will separate you from their company
· Men shall reproach you
· Men will cast out your name as evil
This is a definition of persecution. Our brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world experience these things when they set out to follow Jesus. The same happens in our country but on a much smaller scale. Jesus tells us when this happens that we are to rejoice and leap for joy. Why? Because when you are reproached in this world because you love Jesus, you know that you have reward in heaven.
This is exactly what happened when the apostles were preaching Jesus in Jerusalem. First, they were thrown in jail for preaching Jesus. Then an angel let them out of prison and they continued to preach. When they stood before the council they were told not to speak in the name of Jesus anymore.
Acts 5:40-41 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
They were beaten and they rejoiced! Why because they were suffering for the name of Jesus and they knew that their reward in heaven was great! Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ! The reward in heaven is great so rejoice!
In Christ,
Rody
