Devotions: The Blessings of Persecution

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Persecution is probably the last thing anyone wants to go through, especially when we hear about the terrible things that happen to Christians in other countries even now. But “persecution for the sake of righteousness” is not limited to physical torture and martyrdom. 1 Peter 3 refers to “suffering” for that purpose. I am learning, through my own trials, that it involves so much more. 1 Corinthians talks about doing everything for God, and if everything we do is for God, then every kind of suffering is also. It doesn’t have to be direct persecution for our faith. Any kind of suffering or hardship counts if we offer it to God and choose to persevere for His Name sake, if we choose to count it all joy and live for Him no matter what we face. I was wrestling with God over my current troubles, wondering when it would be over, and He asked me, “Am I worth it?” I had never thought of it that way because my troubles didn’t have anything to do with the “consequences of my faith.” But if I offer it to God, if I choose to live for Him and do what is right, if I choose to persevere then it is suffering for the sake of righteousness. And those who endure will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Now, I do not think that we will only inherit the Kingdom if we are perfectly joyful, etc. in our suffering. It is not an issue of salvation. Our blessing comes now because we have the Kingdom now. When we focus on our suffering, we are not blessed by the Kingdom because we are not living in the Kingdom, but instead are living in our suffering. But if we focus on God, if we purpose to live for Him and not be overwhelmed by our troubles, then we are living in the Kingdom and will be blessed by the joy and peace that brings. We will have a taste of what Heaven will be like when we get there and the assurance that the evil we experience is temporary. Choosing to suffer for His sake, and handling it as He would brings us reward in this life and the next. Choosing not to, by being depressed or self focused, removes the blessing from our suffering. Choose to suffer for His sake, choose to persevere, choose joy in any circumstance and be blessed!

You can also view video recordings of some of my devotions (including this one) on my facebook page www.facebook.com/evelynbray15