Ordained Pain- DAY FOUR

Thought:  Ah, Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount," also known as a list of "The Beatitudes".  Jesus Himself is telling us that many of us will be persecuted.  We will be doing good, trying to help others, living this Christian life, and people might insult us and say horrible things about us.  Our natural reaction would be to defend ourselves or fight back, but Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad.  He is speaking the same language that James spoke in James 1 about being joyful in the midst of trials.

This Christian life sure is counterintuitive!  But Jesus tells us we are not to rejoice because we love pain, but rejoice because we will be rewarded in heaven.  We are considered in the same league as all the great prophets and saints who suffered before us.  If we really ponder this, it does bring us joy.

Application:  Think about times or situations where you were persecuted because of your faith.  Perhaps, you stood for what was right when everyone around you was doing wrong.  How did you feel when you heard what people were saying about you behind your back?  How did you react?  Or did someone verbally attack you to your face?  What did you do?  Journal the experience and the lessons learned.  Now write down how you would react differently, as you understand Jesus' words above.

Q. If you have never been persecuted, what does that say about the boldness of your faith?

Ponder this in your journal.

Response:  With a new heavenly-mindedness, think about the people who have caused you pain in the way of persecution.  Write down a prayer for them.  Also, write a prayer of thanks for what that did for you and how it strengthened you.  Perhaps you need to "love your enemies" by showing some grace to someone who has hurt you?