Daily Devotional

As the world seems to descend further into darkness around us, I think it is timely to remember that we as christians were not guaranteed an easy or prosperous life here on earth. Rather we have actually been promised persecution for Jesus’ name’s sake. A little later on in Matthew 10:22 Jesus says “You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.” He says you will, not you may, or there’s a chance, He says you will. As Christ followers we are called to be set apart, to be holy as Christ is holy, and the world will hate us and persecute us for it.

Now our persecution is not just so that we will have a miserable time on earth, we are the salt and light, we are to be a witness to the world of the Gospel. We are the representatives of Christ and we must always remember that, especially in the midst of difficulty and persecution. Jesus says in these verses that we will be brought before governors and kings as a testimony, therefore we must not harm that testimony by our behavior or reaction to persecution. We are called to be wise as serpents AND harmless as doves. Whenever we find ourselves being persecuted for our faith we need to stop and think how our reaction will be a witness and testimony for Christ in the midst of our circumstances.

So how should we react when the world targets us, restricts us, silences us, or harms us? Well we should turn our eyes towards heaven and pray. Pray for God’s justice, pray for deliverance, pray that we ourselves would not give into the temptation to fight evil with evil, and pray for those who are persecuting us. God promises us that He will give us the words to say in the hour we need it. He will be there as our Defender and Shield and will be with us always. Remember in the hard times, when it matters the most to lean on Him and not on yourself so that your life can proclaim the Gospel until the end.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation