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.

—Matthew 5:11-12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For many of us, the sentiments of this verse feel foreign and upside down to the world we know. However, those who have studied the persecution of Jesus' followers over the centuries remind us that current believers in Christ, especially in some Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries, are enduring perhaps the greatest amount of persecution in the history of Christianity. Many of us live in places where belief is tolerated. Christians are just considered a bit out of touch with reality and a bit naive, yet tolerated. However, with worldliness creeping into God's people from every direction, maybe we should be thankful that Christian living makes us different enough from our cultures to be noticed, even if that notice is a bit unfavorable. At the same time, we need to pray for other believers throughout the world who are undergoing grievous trials, struggles for their faith, suffering, abuse, and martyrdom - these are all happening in many places in our world today. Jesus, however, wants all those who suffer for his sake and the sake of the gospel to know they are noticed, loved, and will be blessed by God when he makes all things right!

My Prayer...

Great Deliverer, many who have faith in Jesus today face daily persecution, abuse, hardship, trials, and even martyrdom. We pray that they do not lose heart and give up their confident faith. We pray that you will bring deliverance from their times of persecution. We pray that their sufferings will be a powerful witness, so others will come to see the great value of Jesus. We pray this in Jesus' precious and holy name. Amen.