When God Says …
“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:23 KJV).
The Lord Jesus, continuing His reassuring words as we face bullying of people that hated us being His disciples in grace by faith, He promised that rejoicing awaits us on the day of His return. In the presence of a large crowd of people, the Lord Jesus continues to deliver His sermon to offer them, and us reflecting now on this passage, instructions on how to live as His disciples. In this particular verse, the Lord Jesus is speaking directly to His followers, including you and I who yields to His Lordship by faith, about the persecution they and we will face for their and our faith, and how they/we should respond to it. The believers’ response to suffering and persecution is neither one of defeat nor resignation, but one of joy and hope.
Yes, our response to suffering and persecution is not of defeat nor resignation nor surrender, but of joy and hope. This passage offers a powerful and challenging message to us all who are born again by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ about how to react to bullying by those who hate us. It calls for a radical shift of perspective, choosing joy and hope in the midst of ill treatment, and place our total trust in the promises of God. This also serves as our cheering and boosting amidst persecution because of His name, reminding us of our identity as citizens of His kingdom and the ultimate hope we have in Christ Jesus.
In the midst of it all, Apostle Peter offers us this exhortation to keep our hope strong. It is written: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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1 comment:
Thank you so much for this message. Bullying, hard things in life are real. Yet, we can respond with hope and joy because of such identity that graciously given to us through His son.Beside, those things that bullies us, we can count it us a sanctifying process into Christlikeness.
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