Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:21b-29
I love reviewing the Beatitudes; our Lord Jesus encouraged His audience then—and
His readers now. The last of these is: “Blessed
are those who have been persecuted
for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew
5:10).
Whenever I read this, I have to ask myself: Have I ever truly been persecuted
for my faith?
While I’ve been ridiculed and stifled, I’ve never been persecuted … certainly
not like Paul was. When I read verses like today’s, I’m humbled—really humbled.
Imprisonments. Beatings. Betrayals. Shipwrecks. Dangers from all sides.
Paul was really, truly persecuted for the sake of righteousness.
And today, Christians throughout the world are still being persecuted.
A couple of years ago, the story of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani made the headlines
when he was released from an Iranian prison after three years. Praise God! But more
are suffering. Just last month, imprisoned pastor Saeed Adedini, who has been
imprisoned since 2012, was reportedly viciously beaten.
Christendom has its martyrs, its persecuted. Most of us will never experience
what Paul did then or Pastor Adenini is now. But whenever we stand up for
truth, whenever we’re insulted for our faith, whenever we’re shunned because of
Christ, we are blessed.
And one day, anything we experience during this temporary life will be
forgotten as we spend eternity with our Lord.
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