“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). A Christian is someone who surrender absolutely to God through repentance “toward God, and faith toward Jesus Christ our and Savior”. Such is seeking to follow Jesus in everything. One of the experiences that meet every true Christian before he has gone far in the Christian life is persecution. Again, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Coupled with this is the trial of our faith. However, there is no trial or persecution that will come to us that we will be too great for us to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). So then, in all things, we are more than conqueror through Him that strengthens us..
Believers suffer persecution because of their Christian convictions. All categories of believers suffer one form of persecution or the other at different stages of their Christian life. Persecution is the common experience of all believers. When it first appeared in the family of Adam, Cain slew Abel. Why? “because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:12). When it appeared in the family of Abraham, Ishmael, born after the flesh, persecuted Isaac, born after the spirit (Galatians 4:29)..
Joseph was hated and sold to slavery by his brethren for relating his God given dream. Moses was ridiculed by some of the people as he led Israel under God’s guidance through the wilderness. David was greatly persecuted by king Saul. Some of the saints of old were cut into two with carpenter’s iron saw (Hebrews 11:37). Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha and other prophets suffered for supporting the sceptre of righteousness as did Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego and Daniel for their Christian stand in worshipping the only true God. The Lord Jesus was vehemently persecuted by the religionists of His day; who would have thought that Jesus Christ could be persecuted with all he did for humanity! The early church believers suffered persecution in the hands the religious Jews and through the pagan gentiles wherever they preached the gospel. They were arrested, tortured, jailed and sometimes martyred for speaking in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul the apostle went through the similar experiences after his conversion. “And after that many days were fulfilled; the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in a basket” (Acts 9:23-25). The apostolic and church fathers suffered untold persecution..
The religion people hated and still hates anyone who walks contrary to the “traditions” of the elders. The compromiser can easily be accommodated and tolerated. But let a break away from traditions and stand for the truth, then the world will rage…. It is obvious that God does not persecute His children. So where does persecution come from? Persecution often come from those who disagree with God’s plan. “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16). Persecution always come from the children of the devil; and sometimes from believers who allow themselves to be used by the devil.
Persecution may take various forms like slanders, being hated, reviled, abused, and insulted, having one’s promotion withheld or one’s entitlements seized by one’s parents, being denied jobs that one is qualified for etc. Please note that being jobless because of laziness or unfaithfulness, being punished because of lawlessness, etc. are not to be regarded part of the believer’s persecution (Please read Romans 13:1-7; 1 Corinthians 11:22-30)..
True believers must maintain love, peace, joy, and faith during persecution. The fruit of the spirit should be conspicuously manifested in the believer’s life every moment all through his life. Holding on to your integrity and faith will bring the victory. Be ever conscious of the eternal weight of glory that awaits us in heaven..
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). Overcoming persecution will obviously strengthen our faith. There is great heavenly reward for us as we endure. We shall be rewarded for every pain and suffering we passed through for Christ’s sake. The overcomers will reign with Christ in glory.