email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

July 19, 2017

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 they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

New International Version (NIV)

Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? Richard Mouw, former President of Fuller Seminary, recently returned from a foreign country with reports of Christians who claimed they only faced "pressure" not persecution. Others tell a different story. One young woman recently decided to give up a career in the military because to advance further she would have to declare herself an atheist.

Jesus did not promise his disciples a trouble-free life. Instead he told them they would find a blessing in being loyal to him. Christians rejoice in a promised reward that we may not experience in this life. One thing is sure: it is so much better to be the one persecuted than the one who is persecuting.

Many of the prophets faced great persecution. Elijah was threatened by a Queen. Jeremiah was put in stocks and thrown into a muddy cistern. John the Baptist was beheaded. Peter was imprisoned. Paul was beaten. The early believers rejoiced that they were counted worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus. Christians who face persecution today follow in the footsteps of these great people of God. Let us pray for the persecuted church today, confident that God's grace will always be sufficient for his people and that he will never leave nor forsake us.

Pray with me:

Father, we pray for your persecuted people around the world today. Thank you for the vitality of the church in the places of greatest suffering. Bless your people with the peace which you alone can provide. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I want to invite you to join me in memorizing 52 passages this year from the 2017 set of Fighter Verses. You can find the Fighter Verses App at the App Store on your phones or via this link http://fighterverses.com/the-verses/fighter-verses/. As we study the Bible this year, let's look at each text and learn what it says about God.

Joyfully,

Duane

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