Embracing persecution is easily the most counterintuitive part of Revival-lution.
Nobody wants to be persecuted, everyone wants to be liked, even revered.
Please don’t misunderstand, we shouldn’t seek persecution. However, if it comes as a result of living a Christian life we shouldn’t run from it or more accurately, change our ways and beliefs to deflect it.
First of all, let’s talk about what I mean by persecution.
Most people think of persecution in terms of the extreme persecution that takes place in areas like the Middle East where people die for their beliefs. Persecution isn’t always so extreme, it is often much more subtle.
Persecution is defined as, to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically: to cause to suffer because of belief.
If someone calls you weird, strange, or a goodie goodie because of your beliefs, that is persecution. If the news reports that Christians are hateful for believing the Bible, that is persecution. If someone sues an individual for not providing a service that goes against their Christian beliefs, that is persecution.
Persecution can be horrible and threaten your life, but it can also be subtle and threaten your financial well-being or just simply your comfort level.
Persecution doesn’t have to be murderous, it can be simple name calling or bullying.
The thing we need to think about is that if someone is persecuting us, in whatever manner, that we are in good company.
In Matthew 5:11 Jesus said,
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”
Jesus was persecuted for being who He was, we are persecuted for following Him.
The good news is that there is a reward, however, that reward might not come in this life, it is an eternal reward. Something that can never be taken from us.
Jesus continued in Matthew 5:12,
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven...
We haven’t been promised a reward in this life, we haven’t even been promised an easy life, but our reward is eternal, forever and ever.
Don’t let people get your down, you have an eternal promise.
It is all…because of Me (Jesus).