Deeper Life #347

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

—Matthew 5:11–12

OUR LORD SAYS THAT HIS disciples are to rejoice when they are reviled, persecuted, or slandered for His sake. So many times we are told that if we suffer for “conviction’s sake” or “conscience’s sake,” we have suffered painfully. Not so. We are supposed to suffer for Jesus’ sake. Our whole motive in suffering is to be well-pleasing to God.

The true blessedness of the saint rests in determining to make and keep God first. The disadvantage of a saint in our present world is that he must make confession of Jesus, not in secret, but glaringly in public. The tendency to be holy and say nothing about it is right from every standpoint but God’s.

Do not hesitate to speak out for God and His Word. It is the greatest need of this world. Be faithful to share the good news of Christ, even if sharing it brings ridicule.

Prayer Thought: Give me grace to rejoice when people persecute me for Your sake, O Lord.

SUGGESTED READING: Psalm 30