Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12
God’s ways are definitely not our ways. I would never equate persecution with being blessed. But this was exactly what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. If we are persecuted for being right with Him, then we will obtain the kingdom of heaven. If people speak badly about us and mistreat us because of our relationship with Jesus, then we are blessed. We should welcome these persecutions with joy for we will have a great reward in heaven. In addition, we must remember we are not the sole victim of persecution. Jesus was persecuted, so we will also be persecuted just as many other saints have been throughout the centuries. Yet, we run away from persecution, not wanting to endure the suffering as we do not count it all joy when we experience a variety of trials. (See James 1:2). However, it seems that when we try to avoid persecution for the sake of Christ, then we are missing out on abundant blessings.
I know that I have been extremely blessed by the lives of my friends who live in Christian countries as they pray for those who persecute and even pray for countries where Christians are in a much better position than they are. Recently, my friend in Pakistan reached out to another of our friends in Trinidad and Tobago to ask how he could pray for this twin island state. My Trinidadian friend was floored. He was overwhelmed that our friend’s church in Pakistan would be praying for countries in this side of the world that cannot comprehend the sufferings people in Pakistan go through being Christian. They continue to pray for the nations when their nation is in turmoil and while Pakistani Christians are having their homes and churches burned by Muslim radicals. Christian girls as young as 13 or 14 years old are being kidnapped, raped and forced to convert to Islam. If they refuse, they are often tortured. Yet, Pakistani Christians continue to bless those who hurt them through their prayers and their actions.
My friend teaches not only Christian students, but also welcomes Muslim students into the school at the brick kiln factory, where families are considered modern day slaves. He doesn’t have enough school supplies for the students, but seeks to find supplies for all students, including those who are Muslim. This amazes me and convicts me at the same time, because I am learning that I am not loving others as I should. Far too often I selfishly focus on myself and my problem, not thinking enough about others. I am also not praying as I should for those people who may annoy me. In contrast, there are Christians who are being oppressed throughout the world who are praying for their persecutors.
I have friends who live in countries where they cannot evangelize in the streets. Nevertheless, they still get together to encourage each other and try to spread the Gospel somehow. They understand Jesus’ instructions to go and spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, no matter the cost. I, on the other hand, not long ago, feeling I should do more evangelism tried to speak to someone about turning his life over to Jesus. Unfortunately, it didn’t go so well. He insisted that he wouldn’t comply with police officers who tried to arrest him for wearing a mask. Frustratingly, that is how most of my evangelism goes. My efforts are often derailed by some other comment that distracts my labour in the vineyard. I seem to be encountering unploughed hearts that are not ready for the seed of God’s word and so I give up easily. But not my friends who could be punished for trying to convert people to Christianity. They keep on pressing forward to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, not only for them, but for those around them, including their persecutors. (See Philippians 3:14)
Each day I feel I am being changed as I see how my friends are bearing good fruit in the face of persecution, persevering through the possibility of being attacked because they are followers of Christ. However, the Bible says they are blessed, and they also are a blessing to others. I am immensely blessed knowing my friends as they have been teaching me some important lessons as persecuted Christians. Have you learned any lessons from the Persecuted Church?
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