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TRUE HAPPINESS IN CHRIST: BE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE
THURSDAY, JULY 13
Hebrews 12:1-14

Matthew 5:10

 

“Blessed are they which are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 

TRUE HAPPINESS IN CHRIST:
BE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE
 
Jesus’ teachings about true happiness even when one is under persecution seems to contradict the thinking, concepts, expectations and values of the world. Unbelievers assume that a happy life cannot involve troubles, problems, hardships, afflictions, trials or persecutions. Therefore, many church leaders today do not want to preach Biblical separation from sins, worldliness, and wrong doctrines. Instead, they preach a health and wealth gospel to attract people to an easy and broad way, believing in the Lord Jesus to be healthy and wealthy but not requiring full submission to the Lord and His Word! But here, not only did our Lord Jesus teach us to suffer but He Himself suffered for us (1 Pet 2:21).
 
Even though the blessings in verse 10 and 11 are for those who suffer persecutions, we see there are two levels: one is for those who live a godly life and the other is for those who bear the name of the Lord Jesus and glorify and magnify Jesus’ Name and propagate their faith in Jesus’ Name in whatever they do. May God help us to be willing to suffer persecutions for righteousness’ sake and for His Name’s sake.
 
When we hunger and thirst for God Himself, for His righteousness in Christ Jesus, for His Word, and for a right relationship with Him, we will try, by God’s grace, to live according to His will and His Word. Suffering persecutions for righteousness’ sake means suffering persecutions when we keep our right relationship with God and live a godly life according to God’s Word, separated from sins and self and worldliness. We should not be surprised when people hate us and persecute us, as our Lord Jesus lived a godly life, a perfect life, a very good life, but He was envied, hated, despised, persecuted and in the end was crucified shamefully on the cross. God’s Word confirms that, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12).
 
THOUGHT: Nothing can separate me from Christ’s love (Rom 8:35-39).

PRAYER: Father, help me live a godly life no matter what may happen.

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