Persecuted for Righteousness Sake
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Matthew 5:10, 11
In every age God's chosen messengers have been reviled and persecuted, yet through their affliction the knowledge of God has been spread abroad. Every disciple of Christ is to step into the ranks and carry forward the same work, knowing that its foes can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. God means that truth shall be brought to the front and become the subject of examination and discussion, even through the contempt placed upon it. The minds of the people must be agitated; every controversy, every reproach, every effort to restrict liberty of conscience, is God's means of awakening minds that otherwise might slumber. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 33)
While the Lord has not promised His people exemption from trials, He has promised that which is far better. He has said, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (Deuteronomy 33:25; 2 Corinthians 12:9). If you are called to go through the fiery furnace for His sake, Jesus will be by your side even as He was with the faithful three in Babylon. Those who love their Redeemer will rejoice at every opportunity of sharing with Him humiliation and reproach. The love they bear their Lord makes suffering for His sake sweet." (Thought from the Mount of Blessing, 30)
Reflection: Character is mainly built by the little things. If we can't overcome the small things, when the large trials some, we will not be prepared. The faithful three had developed a strong character long before they were thrown in the furnace. Their character was revealed, not developed, in their hour of great trial.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Matthew 5:10, 11
In every age God's chosen messengers have been reviled and persecuted, yet through their affliction the knowledge of God has been spread abroad. Every disciple of Christ is to step into the ranks and carry forward the same work, knowing that its foes can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. God means that truth shall be brought to the front and become the subject of examination and discussion, even through the contempt placed upon it. The minds of the people must be agitated; every controversy, every reproach, every effort to restrict liberty of conscience, is God's means of awakening minds that otherwise might slumber. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 33)
While the Lord has not promised His people exemption from trials, He has promised that which is far better. He has said, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (Deuteronomy 33:25; 2 Corinthians 12:9). If you are called to go through the fiery furnace for His sake, Jesus will be by your side even as He was with the faithful three in Babylon. Those who love their Redeemer will rejoice at every opportunity of sharing with Him humiliation and reproach. The love they bear their Lord makes suffering for His sake sweet." (Thought from the Mount of Blessing, 30)
Reflection: Character is mainly built by the little things. If we can't overcome the small things, when the large trials some, we will not be prepared. The faithful three had developed a strong character long before they were thrown in the furnace. Their character was revealed, not developed, in their hour of great trial.
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