Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Matt. 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you."
We value a life free from difficulty. There’s nothing wrong with that desire, but life doesn’t always work that way.
We all face difficulties and challenges related to our purpose and tasks. If you are into customer service, you know what it’s like to be personally criticized for something that was not your doing. People are often frustrated and feel the need need to vent to whomever seems to be closest to what frustrates them. If the mail carrier delivers an overdue bill, some people become angry at the person who is only doing his or her job. If one did not study well and then fails an examination, being angry at the teacher does not make sense. There are things about human nature that are irrational and illogical, but this is the reality of human nature.
I remember when I was in art school as a 20 year old, I had a professor who was strict. He seemed to always be critical of my work. One day I called him a racist thinking that he was singling me out because I was Black. His response was “Bryan, you are delivering substandard work. I expect better and you can do better.” I felt that I was being persecuted, but in reality my professor only objectively identified where I was coming short of the standards of this prestigious art school.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake…”
In this statement, He was not talking about everyday life. Jesus spoke specifically to those who were serving God's purposes, not their own. Persecution is suffering in the service of doing God‘s will. Because many people are at odds with God and living opposite His values, they lash at those who represent God’s purposes and values.
Persecution can take many forms. Apart from martyrdom (death), which is obviously the worst form of persecution, all other forms are intended to inflict some level of emotional pain, mental distress, with the aim towards discouraging further activity in His name. Examples include:
• Physical attacks
• Abusive words
• Rejection of one's message
• Refusal to support
• Slander and speaking negatively to others about the person serving God
But as we like to say, “Don’t get it twisted!” Peter explained:
“Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.” (1 Peter 2:20, NLT)
Getting in trouble for doing wrong IS NOT persecution! When you suffer for doing good, THIS IS persecution.
As Paul instructed Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
So, the blessing of being persecuted for righteousness sake is that we are in the “good company” of Jesus Christ and all those who suffered doing God’s will. From another context, we remember the late, great John Lewis, who famously said, “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”
We should do the same and more for the Gospel of Christ!
Reflection Question:
For God’s purposes, what “good trouble” have you experienced?
The Masterpiece Mindset | Part 4, "The Mind of Christ"
The Masterpiece Mindset | Part 3, "The Winner's Mindset"
The Masterpiece Mindset | Part 2, "Change Your Mind. Change Your Life"
The Masterpiece Mindset | Part 1, "Who Am 1? You are God's Masterpiece"
Resurrected Walk Called Newness of Life
From Cope to Hope | Part 5, "Mirror Mirror, What Do I See?"
From Cope to Hope | Part 4, "Five Secrets to Happiness"
From Cope to Hope | Part 3, "No More Phobias & Fears. How to Use Your Faith"
From Cope to Hope | Part 2, “Peace in the Middle of Your Storm: Resolving Conflicts”
From Cope to Hope | Part 1, "Too Blessed to Be Stressed"
Vision for 2015 | Arise. Shine. Promote Hope!
The Power Of God's Plan
Kingdom Best Practice
How to Be Strong: Ingredients for Strength
How to Be Strong: Defy the Odds. Renew Your Strength.
House of Wisdom: How to Live in the Overflow
Intro to the “House of Wisdom” 30-Day Devotional
Facts of Life in the “House of Wisdom”
Wisdom For Your Life in a Confused World
Heart+Treasure: How to Be Rich in God
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Life After Ministry
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)