Persecution has been defined as acts or actions taken against a group of people to exterminate or cause harm to the group based on their religious, ethnic, social, or racial background.

It can happen anywhere to any group of people. Other parts of the world have surely faced greater persecution than Christians have here in the United States.

“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:10, NLT)

According to the above verse, blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what is right – not in their own eyes, but in the eyes of God according to His Word.

“Persecution is like holy fertilizer that sinks into the soil of our hearts and minds, producing Christlikeness as we respond to Jesus in faith.”

 

(from The Good Life by Dr. Derwin L. Gray, page 193)

Hard times and difficulties cause us to learn to focus on God, His Word, and His promises instead of our problems. Even when life seems bleak and hopeless, we find ourselves filled with hope and endurance.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NASB)

Hard times and difficulties cause us to grow, allowing Him to remove sin from our lives and stand faithful in the face of opposition.

“Endurance allows us to not grow in bitterness or pettiness, but to be patient with a uclture that is fractured and hurt.”

 

(from The Good Life by Dr. Derwin L. Gray, page 195)

As we grow in Him, we are better able to remain gracious and kind even towards those who seem to oppose and wound us. We refrain from responding harshly because we recognize whom we battle:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12, NASB)

As the climate in the world around us grows more hostile and divided, may we be of those who come to love and pray for those who persecute us, and others. It is the way this dying world will be reached, and we will be blessed for doing so.

May we respond rightly – righteously – when persecuted. 
Then the light of Jesus will be seen through us, 
and we shall be blessed in so doing.

Life can change so quickly and we need to be reminded not to take our families and each day for granted. In her post, Let Your Loved Ones Know You Care, Lois Flowers shares of the importance of making sure the people in our lives know we love them today.

Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.

** This is an edited post which first appeared HERE.
Image by LUM3N from Pixabay