GET HAPPY!...Beth Jones God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are My followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too. Matthew 5:10-12, NLT When people persecute and hate you because of your faith—what should you do? When people mock, lie and twist the truth about you because you follow Jesus—how do you respond? Unfortunately, there will always be people in the world with the negative, anti-Christ disposition. Jesus predicted it. He said if people in the world dont accept Him, they wont accept His followers. Jesus made it clear that those who hate believers hated Jesus first. Those who listen to Jesus will listen to those who follow Jesus. Those who dont know God will hate those who do know God. Its that basic. When the world hates you, remember it hated Me before it hated you. The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you dont. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? A servant is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to Me, they would listen to you! The people of the world will hate you because you belong to Me, for they dont know God who sent Me. (John 15:18-22, NLT) So, whats a Christian to do when family, friends, coworkers, neighbors or complete strangers—those who dont know God—hate you? Say evil things about you? Exclude you? Mock or curse you? Two Things: First: Be happy about it! God blesses you and there is a great reward awaiting you in heaven. Second: Keep teaching and preaching Jesus as Savior, Lord, Healer, Redeemer and Soon Coming King! In spite of the spiritual attitudes of some people, the Bible says this: Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. (Matthew 9:35-38, NIV) Dont pay any attention to the world—the misled, ungrateful, antagonistic, nay-saying, mocking, lying, hating, persecutors. Just keep going after the plentiful harvest of those who do have ears to hear the good news about Jesus Christ! Prayer: Father, I rejoice and I am happy that I know You. I am thankful for the great reward that awaits me in heaven for the persecution, hatred, mockery, criticism and lies that have been thrown against me. While those who dont know You may hate me because of my faith in Jesus, help me to keep a tender heart towards the plentiful harvest of people who are lost and helpless and longing to know You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 11:54:44 +0000
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