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Today’s Devotional:

Today’s Devotional:

Perseverance in the Persecution

Written By: Danny Saavedra

“Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”—Matthew 5:12 (NLT)

So yesterday, we learned something very interesting: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11 NIV). Of all the words I would use to describe being insulted, persecuted, and slandered, I can tell you that “blessed” would be at the bottom of the list. But that’s because, in my human mind with my limited view, I have this tendency to think within the little box of my present life, circumstances, and feelings!

As we have come to know all too well, God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). And as it pertains to Matthew 5:11 and the idea of being blessed in the midst of insults, persecution, and slander, today’s verse explains the form that blessing takes! Here in verse 12, our Lord encourages us, saying, “For a great reward awaits you in heaven.”

I know that being persecuted, insulted, hated, and mistreated for loving Jesus is hard. I’ve experienced it and know it doesn’t feel good. But I hope you’ll find solace in knowing that even though we face the reality found in John 15:20 (NIV), which says, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also,” we can rejoice in the reality found in John 16:33 (NIV), which says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Consider also the words of wisdom found in James 4:14 (NLT), which says, “Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” Most of us have 80, maybe 90 years on this earth. Job rightfully states, “that my life is but breath” (Job 7:7 NASB). And once this life comes to an end, we face eternity, where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, where He instructed us to store up treasures for ourselves. Perseverance, grace, and reliance on Jesus in the face of persecution is like a deposit in our heavenly storehouse.

So friends, I pray that the peace of God that surpasses understanding will strengthen, empower, and embolden you when you encounter persecution. I pray that, like in Acts 14:22 (NLT), I can encourage you like the apostle did the early church when he told them “to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”

DIG: Search the New Testament for instances of the apostles and early church members enduring the persecution Jesus predicted. How did they endure? What attitude did they demonstrate?

DISCOVER: How do you feel knowing that your reward for earthly persecution is waiting for you in Heaven? Does this bring you comfort in the moment?

DISPLAY: In your prayers today, thank the Lord Jesus for overcoming the world and for giving you a hope and future beyond this world.

Thanks to Law Enforcement and First Responders

Just wanting to say thank you to our Law Enforcement and first responders. Daily you are in my prayers. You are not forgotten and I appreciate all the work you do and sacrifices you make daily for us. Without you there would be chaos and mass destruction. I am grateful for being willing to serve our community and the hard work you do. It is at times a thankless job and unappreciated. I am letting you know that I am truly honored that you would put your life on the line daily to keep me safe feom harm and to help those in need. God bless you and your family and all that you do. https://youtu.be/Y-prsz4bC0Y

John 16:1-33 KJV

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:1‭-‬33 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.16.1-33.KJV