Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
Last time we spoke about two of three reasons we are sometimes shocked to hear of persecution. The first two were: (1)We are generally, and by comparison, almost completely sheltered from persecution. (2)We are ignorant of history.
We introduced the third with these words (promising to fill in more details this time):
We read the Bible selectively. We may be experts at quoting truncated portions of scripture such as, “I can do all things…” (Yes, there is more to that verse that is contrary to the way so many abusively treat the Word of God.). God’s Word overflows with encouragement but it also tells us the truth about the cost of following Jesus—including persecution.
The fact is, scripture is replete with the truth that life is hard, including persecution. Didn’t God tell Adam and Eve (immediately after their sin) that work will be a sweat, and childbearing will be painful (Genesis 3:14-19)?
Has God not established the fact that one of the ways He refines His people is in the furnace (Proverbs 17:3)? Has He not also demonstrated that he often disciplines His people by turning them over to their enemies (too many verses to cite!)?
Was Jesus less than clear when He warned us that following Him means denying self and taking up our crosses (the symbol of Christ’s crucifixion) (Matthew16:24-26)?
Specifically on the subject of persecution, did Jesus not say that as the godless hate Him, they will also hate His people (John 15:18-25)? And did Paul not instruct us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12)?
My point is simply this, while we certainly recoil at the atrocities to which our persecuted brethren are subjected, that persecution happens should not be a shock—if we read all the Bible instead of only our favorite verses (often not even entire verses!) of encouragement.
Jesus spoke of both persecution and encouragement in the same verse:
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Let us remember our suffering brethren in prayer!