Matthew 5:10 NLT, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
When you are going through persecution you may not always “feel” blessed but God says you are. Standing firm in your faith in Jesus Christ, even when it’s not popular, shows your loyalty to the Savior. In order to go deeper with the Lord and know Him more, we must be willing to make Him a priority, and choose Him regardless of what other people are doing and saying. This often means going in a different direction from where the world is going. It can also mean detouring from our own plans to follow His.
One of the blessings I have personally experienced from following Jesus Christ when it’s not popular, is a deep peace and contentment that comes from knowing I am in His perfect will. It brings satisfaction to know that I am doing what is best for my life because I am obeying God’s Word.
We don’t have to compete with others or work to gain their acceptance and approval, because in Christ we already have been accepted and approved of. He also has a unique plan for our lives, and always has our best interest at heart.
Even though things are not always within our understanding right away, we can completely trust God to work out every single detail and bring the needed blessings into our lives. He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
We’re living in a time where it’s becoming more and more unpopular to follow Jesus, and easier and easier to not follow Jesus. Therefore we have to make a decision and stand firm. When we are persecuted for Him, we are blessed and great is our reward in heaven. However even now on Earth, God will show us His goodness and protect us when we choose Him above all else.
Psalm 27:13 NIV, ”I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
Remain confident in your faith in Jesus, for in Him you are blessed. The persecution you are enduring, may very well be God’s training ground to shape you and mold you so that He can promote you to the next level. Keep your eyes on Him, and stand firm.
Drawing Closer to Christ 