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Luke 6:22-23
Jesus states in John 15:18-25 (NKJV), “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause’ [Psalm 69:4].”
Jesus declares in Luke 6:23 that those who suffer in this world for Him should, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to The prophets.”
This is a promise that those who live in the sinful nature will show hate toward those who have put on a new life in Christ Jesus.
This is a promise that because the world hates Jesus, so too the world will hate those who believe in Him.
This is an example of the ongoing spiritual battle for our souls as Satan tries to keep us from having a relationship with our Savior Jesus.
This is a promise that suffering for Christ’s sake will produce a great reward in heaven.
The Bible teaches us in Mark 8:34-38, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Being a child of God is not the easy road. Standing up for Jesus requires a strength that only He can give, and worldly persecution is sure to follow. Jesus was persecuted first; we will be persecuted for believing in Him. I encourage you from my own experience to not be discouraged by this because Jesus will fill your heart with joy for standing up for Him in this world, and as Jesus said in Luke 6:23, “…For indeed your reward is great in heaven,…”
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the reward of a joyous heart for enduring the persecution that comes from standing up for Jesus in this sinful world. Please help us to always remember during these times that Jesus was persecuted far worse than us in enduring the sin of humanity on the cross. Please fill our hearts with the joy of Your Holy Spirit and give us the strength to believe in You and salvation in Your Son Jesus, whom You sent to save the world from sin as He proclaimed in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” In Jesus name I pray, amen.