Persecuted for Christ

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and perscute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my names sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you,” Matthew 5:10-12

Have you ever been persecuted for something? 

The word “persecute/persecution” means “to pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, or afflict; to beset with cruelty or malignity; to harass; especially, to afflict, harass, punish, or put to death for one’s race, adherence to a particular religious creed, or mode of worship.  To oppress, harass, distress, worry, or annoy.”

A child in school might be persecuted for the way they look, or maybe they aren’t as “smart” as other children, so they are “bullied” or called names. Maybe they can’t see very good, and require glasses to correct their vision, and they are called “four-eyes” by some of the other children. 

Paul knew persecution well. As a Pharisee, Paul (then Saul) would go and search out those who practiced this new religion called Christianity and deliver them into prison, destroying churches. Persecuting those who followed after Christ. But after his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul became that thing which he once persecuted and sought to destroy, and in turn was the recipient of persecution himself. Stonings, beatings, imprisonment etc. But he knew the riches of God would someday await him in heaven. 

As a Christian, persecution is something that we need to be ready for. After all, Jesus Himself was persecuted, and as followers of Christ we should be ready to receive the same kind of reception. As Jesus said, 

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” John 15:18-20

In the book of Acts, some of the apostles had been brought before some Jewish leaders, and were thrown into prison for healing the sick, and preaching about Jesus. But what was the apostles reaction to this treatment?

“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Acts 5:41

They rejoiced. “Rejoice” means to be very happy, be delighted, or to feel great joy.

Imagine the feeling that someone running a marathon race feels when they win. Joy. Exuberation. Glee. That is what it means to rejoice. In the sport of baseball, when a team wins the World Series, when the last pitch has been thrown, and the last third out is recorded, what happens? The entire winning team runs out onto the field, jumping up and down, yelling, cheering, hugging each other with great joy. That is what it means to “rejoice.”

If you are hated by others in the world because you are doing what the word of God teaches, then you should rejoice, because that is what the world did to Jesus. As the apostles did, be filled with joy that you are counted worthy to be persecuted for the name of Christ. 

Do not let the fear of persecution stand in the way of your faith in Christ. The calling of Christ is a high calling, and the reward is great for those who endure until the end.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

In Christ,

Andrew