Good morning, good morning, good morning !
[10] Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
[11]Blessed are you when people reproach you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely because of me.
[12] Rejoice and be glad, because your reward will be great in heaven; for thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you]
Matthew 5:10-12.
“He who received seed in stony places is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
[21] but he has no roots in himself, he lacks persistence, and whenever tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, he finds in it an opportunity to stumble.”
Matthew 13:20-21.
“Those who have fallen on good ground are those who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patience”, Luke 8:15.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen us in times of persecution.
Persecutions are part of the package of our redemption. Those who truly want to live a life of separation and consecration attract persecutions.
Those who will truly engage in soul winning attract greater persecution.
Satan uses
Persecutions to frighten the children of God, to shake and upset them in order to destroy their faith, and bring them back to himself. But God uses the same persecutions to strengthen, purify, establish and mature His children.
Christians who are afraid of persecution lead a fruitless Christian life and end up losing their flavor or savor… “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its flavor (saltines), with what will it be salted again? It is no longer good for anything but to be cast out and trodden down by men”, Matthew 5:13.
For the salt to be useful, it must be thrown into the pot or into water, or perhaps on meat, fish, etc. Then goes through the fire, dissolves before giving its expected flavor, taste or savor. Everyone loves salt (except some medical cases) but no one wants to throw salt in their mouth to chew it. It has to go through a preparation process to be useful and tasteful.
If therefore we are the salt of the earth, we have to go through a process on earth, go through the earthly fire in an earthly pot in order to give our flavor to the inhabitants of the earth. And if we fear persecutions, we are thereby rejecting the process that brings out our flavor, and we risk being applauded by men but useless to the Lord. This is why it is said: “My brethren, regard as a subject of complete joy the various trials to which you may be exposed, knowing that the trial of your faith produces patience. But patience must perfectly fulfill its work, that you may be perfect and complete, without failing in anything…Blessed is the man who patiently endures temptation, for after he has been tried he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who ‘love’ Him, James 1:2-4,12.
“Now, all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked men and imposters will go further and further into evil, misleading others and misleading themselves. You, remain in the things you have learned, and certain, knowing from whom you learned them”, 2 Timothy 3:12-14.
There are persecutions and accusations that come against us simply because of the Word of God that we have received and want to put into practice. But your persecutors or accusers never tell you openly (except in rare cases) that it is because of the Word that you are hated, hated, falsely accused or persecuted.
This is why as a child of God, be very careful when you start to talk badly or criticize a Christian or a man of God, often it is the false motives that are evoked to push the masses and even the Christians to s meddle in it.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us serve the Lord and always be ready for His return.
Thank you. Be blessed !
Apostle Tatang D. H. R.
