Saturday, February 27
Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others 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 they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

THE PERSECUTED

Blessedness is a sought-after condition that means joy, abundance, and satisfaction. What Jesus tells us here seems paradoxical.  How should we react to being ridiculed, marginalized, imprisoned, or tortured for following Him? Our flesh or logic would retaliate or talk back in the face of unjust persecution. “Mutual respect, acceptance!” our western worldview would retort. But Jesus teaches otherwise.

Jesus knew that His followers would be persecuted just as He was. He cautions us that we will be hated because we are not of this world (John 15:19). Whether we live in a closed or free society, abroad or in the States, we are not ultimately citizens of this world and we should not be surprised when we are faced with “fiery trials” (1 Peter 4:12). Persecution is not something that we need to seek out – surely Jesus is not encouraging a masochistic or ascetic approach to life – but suffering is a natural consequence of being united to Christ in his life and death.

Indeed, the family of God, which now spans nations, tongues, and tribes grew from a handful of disciples who suffered painful and gruesome deaths, following in Jesus’ footsteps. But in God’s design, the suffering of believers never exists for its own sake; it is always for His greater plan. Being able to endure sustained testing of faith, as visualized by Viola’s Martyrs video installation, purifies and strengthens our beliefs. When we are asked to articulate or defend our faith, Jesus promises the Spirit will supply the words and strength necessary for the task.  The Greek word for “martyr” is simply “witness” – and this is what we are called to be, wherever we are. But where persecution exists, the church is purified and often grows exponentially. As Tertullian, the early church Father wrote, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

Persecution may seem like something that happens in far-off locales. But are we prepared to count the cost in our daily lives, choosing to identify with a suffering savior? Do we stand with our persecuted brothers and sisters, remembering those in chains (Heb. 13:3)? Do we, like the early apostles, rejoice at the prospect of being “counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41)?

This type of blessedness is one that the world cannot explain. This type of blessedness bears much fruit – not only in spiritual reward, but in the building of God’s kingdom.

PRAYER

Thou God of my end,
All I want in life is such circumstances
As may best enable me to serve thee in the world…
Enable me to undertake some task for thee,
For this refreshes and animates my soul,
So that I could endure all hardships and labours,
And willingly suffer for thy name.
But, O what a death it is to strive and labour,
To be always in a hurry and yet do nothing! …
Fit me to exult in distresses of every kind
If they but promote the advancement of thy kingdom.
Fit me to quit all hopes of the world’s friendship,
And give me a deeper sense of my sinfulness…
Fit me to pray with a sense of the joy of divine communion,
To find all times happy seasons to my soul,
To see my own nothingness,
And wonder that I am allowed to serve thee.
Fit me to enter the blessed world where no unclean thing is,
And to know thee with me always.
- excerpted from the Valley of Vision

Hannah Varamini, CCCA Staff