Matthew 5:10 “Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born – again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness‘ sake( for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”
Recently a Nigerian pastor was kidnapped by Muslim terrorists. In the video the captors intended as propaganda, the pastor refused to beg for his life, but rather testified to the goodness of God and the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. That pastor paid with his life; the terrorists beheaded him!
Many of us might never pay with our physical lives for our faith, but that does not mean that we will not be “persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Each and every time we take a stand for what is right, we run the risk of becoming a target of someone else’s frustrations, bitterness, or resentment. We may be mocked at our workplaces. We may lose promotions because we refuse to cheat or to pay bribes. We may be verbally or physically attacked for the stands we have taken. But the struggle is worth it!
THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT! THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT!
THE STRUGGLE IS WORTH IT!
WRITE THESE WORDS ON YOUR HEARTS!
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.” When we have become Christ – followers, we have automatically enlisted in the Army of Light, the Army of Righteousness. “The church today is in a battle and there is no demilitarized zone,” to quote Ron Kenoly. And we are not contending for an earthly kingdom, but for a heavenly one. In the Hallelujah Chorus we sing, “The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He shall reign forever and ever!”
That pastor who died in Nigeria is not an isolated case! It is estimated that 75% of the Christians in North Korea eventually die for their faith. One father who showed a Christian video in the privacy of his home was later run over by bulldozers in the public square in front of his horrified family. The family refused to renounce Christ. This story was recounted to us by South Korean believers we met at a CHE training in 2011. In Northern Nigeria, Muslim extremists are trying to kill as many Christians as possible. Make no mistake! The time is coming when each of us must individually decide to take a stand for Christ or against Him. And we may die or suffer as a result. So why bother?
We have been promised “a Kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken.” (Hebrews 12:28) Nothing we have on this earth is permanent. In the news yesterday we learned that Kobe Bryant, one of the outstanding basketball players of all time, perished in a helicopter crash. Yesterday morning before that helicopter took off, Mr. Bryant had it all – fame, fortune, family. But in an instant, everything was gone, and his life was over.
Today, what is the purpose of your life? For what are you striving? If you are striving for anything less than the Kingdom of God, you are cheating and deceiving yourself. Don’t settle for feel – good substitutes! Turn to Jesus while you still can!
PRAYER: Father God, help us! We want to give our hearts to you but aren’t sure how to do so. We confess that we are sinners and that nothing we have done or can do will earn our way into Your Heaven. Forgive our sins. Clean up our hearts. And help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.
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