Devotionals

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Hello, and welcome to this weeks verse of the week. I have been looking forward to doing this verse, because it really spoke to me, as a lot of them do, but this one speaks to me personally, because everyone I know who does not know the Lord really does think I am crazy for what I believe, though I have been blessed because I have not been persecute, as so many have......Here is the verse :)

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsley say all kinds of evil things 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 that were before you."

Matthew 5:11-12

The Lord pointed out one part of that scripture specifically, because of me. The reason people look down upon us as believers, is because of Jesus! They are not angry at us, they are not threatened or convicted by us, but by Jesus in us! Deep in their hearts they know that they are missing something, so whenever they come across a believer in Jesus Christ, they get defensive, and nervous. Because we have something they do not.
But we can REJOICE! Because we do have Christ in us, and we are SAVED by His grace and they can be too! We will face persecution, or at least redicule or sometimes even hatred. But its all for the sake of winning souls to Jesus Christ!!! Its worth it!
I have faced a lot of opposition for what I believe and it was hard at first. No one likes it when others put them down, no matter for what reason. And the flesh in us, the part that likes to argue, wants to retaliate against the very people that the Lord wants to save!
Sometimes, its best to be quiet. Once someone who knows that you are a Christian has heard you speak the gospel to them, and you have answered their questions, nothing else can be said. They know where you stand, and they know where they stand. Its good to just pray and let God do the rest. Because they will(often enough), argue and give you every reason why you are wrong! I have heard my family say SOOO many times, "I will never believe in Jesus, I can't, I'm Jewish". It breaks my heart. It breaks Gods heart. But He knows where they are, even more than they, themselves know. Its hard to hear someone you care about claim to be an "atheist" and buy every lie in the book about life, people, themselves, and God. It hurts God more to see His beloved, precious child turn the other way from Him. He grieves. But there is, sometimes nothing we can do for them, but give them over to the Lord. Let Him work on their hearts, and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as to when, or if He wants us to speak to them further.
All of those chosen by the Lord to follow Him will be looked down upon at some point, by some people because we ARE different! Its like a pastor I once heard say "we are lovesick for a God we can't see, and homesick for a place we have not been." Its not "normal" by the worlds standards. Most people are excited for the weekend and we are excited for Heaven :) But they will se a difference in us, and cannot ignore it. They cannot ignore the peace we have in the midst of trials, the joy in the midst of sorrows, the hope in the midst of pain! The gratitude, the giving spirits, the steadfast hearts of those who know Father God and His son Jesus Christ. No, we are not perfect, and I know there are a lot of days when I feel like I am not much different from the world. But God knows my heart, and that its in the right place to serve Him, and very slowly, He changes me(us) from a person who longs after worldly things to one who "hungers and thirsts for righteousness." people WILL see that, and when they do, they won't be able to help but be curious about our God and what makes His so different, so great.
Keep shining! Don't worry about being looked down upon for what you believe, in fact, REJOICE! They see that you are different, and will want to know why.

DEAR LORD-PEOPLE LOOKED DOWN ON YOU FOR WHO YOU WERE AND EVENTUALLY KILLED YOU. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU, CONVICTED THEM, AND THEY COULD NOT STAND THAT. BUT SOME KNEW YOU WERE DIFFERENT, YOU WERE SPECIAL, AND THEY WANTED TO BE LIKE YOU. THEY WERE DRAWN TO YOU, LORD, LET THEM BE DRAWN TO US, BECAUSE OF YOUR SWEET SPIRIT INSIDE OF US. SHINE THROUGH US, SO THEY MAY SEE YOUR LIGHT, LORD. WE PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR SALVATION, THAT YOU SET US ASIDE TO BE DIFFERENT SO THE WORLD MAY SEE OUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN!
IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS,

AMEN

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