“On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matt 10:18-23)
Not a very pretty picture, is it? Yet Matt 5:10-12 calls those who are persecuted “Blessed”! “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:10-12)
But God does not simply tell us we will be persecuted and there is nothing we can do about it. He leaves an open door, an element of safety built into the system! “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” (Matt. 10:23). Christian’s will not be persecuted everywhere at once! God will intervene on our behalf!
How often do we simply shut our mouths instead of speaking out for God? How often do we allow our circumstances or our fear of losses (jobs, friends, position, etc.) keep us from doing what is right? Speak up, my friends! For those who are persecuted are called “blessed”, and God has another situation already prepared for you where you will be safe for a time from persecution!
Dear Lord, may we be less fearful of speaking out for You! May we learn to rely on You to give us the words to say and the courage to say them, no matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in, for You have promised that when we are persecuted in one place, we are simply to flee to another, for we will not finish going through the cities before You return!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org