As we continue on with our search through the Word of God as to what our lives can look like when we are completely surrendered to Jesus Christ, today's title verse says it all!
Are you blessed in this way, have others rejected you, avoided you, made fun of you, or persecuted you because of your faithful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ? The body of Christ around the world is being persecuted, arrested, beaten, even killed because of the name of Jesus Christ every single day! And they like the apostles, consider it all joy that they have been found worthy to suffer for Jesus Christ. Acts 5:41 says; "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name."
In the United States we have lived with religious freedom and it is only in our recent past that we see the tide turning in respect to that freedom. Now it is freedom if you are any religion but a fundamentalist Christian! The media and television shows mock Christianity and sadly the fear of ridicule is shutting peoples mouths. But to those who are willing to stand up, show up and speak up the reward is blessing from God.
The word blessed as found in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 means; happy, to be envied! Listen to what Jesus has to say regarding those who are willing to face persecution and ridicule or worse for their belief in Jesus Christ. "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:11-12.
The Apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3:14-16; "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled. But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."
Are you suffering at all for Christ sake or are you so well hidden that no one would even suspect you of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? Believers in this country have kept their mouths closed for way too long, now is the time, this is the year for the body of Christ to come out of the closet and stand up, show up and speak up! All we have to lose is our fear, our cowardliness, all we have to gain is the blessing of Christ Jesus Who first lived with; rejection, ridicule, hatred, mocking, beatings and the shame of the cross, even death, on our behalf.
How can we not stand up for Him and confess Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD? How can we any longer allow people to mock Him and His Word and stand mute? Let us live our lives in 2012, always being ready to make a defense for Jesus Christ! We can do this together, for He that is within us is more powerful than he who is in the world!
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