“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.”
Matt. 5:11-12
In these distressing and disorienting times, what should a follower of Jesus expect?
As those who trust in Jesus, and find in Him every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3), including love, joy, peace, power and everything else — shouldn’t life be “blessed” and comfortable?
Well.
Let’s remember where Jesus said blessing can be found. Not in material things. Not in the comforts and pleasures of this world. But in Him; in His kingdom. False teachers twist the promises of Scripture into a “prosperity gospel” that contradicts the clear teachings of Jesus.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Our peace and joy do not come from the absence of struggle or tribulation in this world, they come from our relationship with the Lord Jesus, who has overcome this dark and dying world. Our life is in him, and our focus is on His kingdom, which is not of this world.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but 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.
John 15:18-20
This teaching of Jesus reminds us of his first major message in the sermon on the mount, when he taught his followers to expect to be treated like the Old Testament prophets. They were famous in a way but did not enjoy the celebrity lifestyle of the rich and famous “influencers” today. Yet Jesus said there is blessing in being treated that way. There is a special fellowship in sharing in the suffering of God’s holy people who put their trust in Him.
If you have “your best life now” what does that mean for eternity? It’s all downhill?
Jesus said, “If you save your life you will lose it.” He called us to “take up your cross daily and follow me.” He exhorted us to avoid the broad road that most people take on their way to eternal destruction and to embrace the narrow path, the difficult way of service and sacrifice and suffering.
You can gain the whole world and forfeit your soul.
Or you can seek first the kingdom of God.
You cannot serve both God and money. You cannot love two masters.
If we are to develop a deeply rooted, enduring faith, we must have the right expectations when it comes to this life. Yes, following Jesus can fill us with love, joy, peace, purpose and power. But that does not mean health and wealth and popularity and success. It means a new definition of success; a new understanding of blessing.
Would you rather become more like Jesus or be more comfortable in this world?
Will you seek your happiness in the here and now or will you seek Jesus, even if it means hardship and sacrifice?
A wonderful resource to encourage us and guide our prayers is the Voice of the Martyrs. They share stories from all over the world of our brothers and sisters facing persecution. This Sunday (9/15/24) I will share the story of Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was imprisoned in Turkey for two years, from 2016-2018. Listen to his story here. And don’t miss his wife Norine’s side of the story here.
Let’s learn from believers who have suffered for Christ throughout the ages that the greatest blessing is a relationship with Jesus and the path to joy is becoming like Him. Let’s pray the prayer of Paul:
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:8-11