Key Verse: "I call on you, O God, for You will answer
me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 17:6
There's a chorus to a popular song from a few years back
that says:
Where can I go when I
need a shelter?
Where can I go when I
need a friend?
Where can I go when I
need some helpin'?
Where can I go, back
on my knees again! (Amy Grant)
In Psalm 116, another Psalm written by a persecuted
believer, the Psalmist says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
death of His saints.” (Psalm
116:15) But that leads us to ask,
"why is that?” While in the case of
this Psalm, the Psalmist was obviously rescued, we know that isn't always the
case.
Why didn't Jesus say, "Blessed are you when you are
persecuted because God will rescue you in miraculous ways!” Why are some people allowed to continue to
suffer in this world, "for His name's sake?” How does God get the glory for this?
This is a history in scripture that we are all too familiar
with. Jesus acknowledges this history
Himself when He says, "for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12B) The truth is, following Christ will mean that
you are not in lock step with the world any more.
In the next few verses, Jesus encourages His listeners to
"let their light shine before men so that they will see your good works
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:16) If you are not in
lock step, if you are being different, you are bound to be noticed. Many won't like the ways you’re different and
they will cause you grief, but if they see your good despite how they are
treating you, and you give the credit for that goodness to God, He will get the
glory, even through your persecution.
Think of it like this. If it were easy to be a Christian, you would probably attract some who
would want to get on board the Christian band wagon because they also want to
receive the kinds of blessings that you have. They want the blessings, but they may not necessarily want the
sacrificial walk. If, however, you stay
with Christ even through the hard times, whatever that may be, then the world
will notice and consider that there may be more to God than just receiving blessings. There may be something deeper that they don't
understand.
You are showing them a life, centered on God, your refuge,
your rock. You aren't tossed to and fro
by emotions and feelings, or reacting to circumstances in the way of the world. Your difference is something solid, that just
might get them through their storms of life as well. Blessed are you when you are persecuted
because you are being given the opportunity to be a testimony to God's goodness
and dependability through it all. That
is something that the world needs to see.
"We Pray that you will live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in
the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His
glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance
of the saints in the kingdom of light.” (Col. 1:10-12)
Amen.
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