In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile…persecute… and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” In 2 Timothy 3:12 God shows us, “…All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Living in Godliness means living according to His Word. We must study and apply God’s Word as we live life. Those who live Godly will be a reproof to those who do not live for God, thus persecution. Our goal should be to live the way Jesus lived—humbly and in meekness (power under control).
(Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Timothy 6:11-12)
In Luke 6:22-23, God says, “Blessed are you when men hate you…exclude…revile…and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice…and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven.”
In Philippians 2:9, God has highly exalted Jesus so that every knee should bow in heaven and earth and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. In this we see the Christ-like humility shown in the freedom of God’s Son. This freedom affirms the fullness of all God has placed in Him, without needing to flaunt, prove, or push it through self-advancement. Jesus, the Son of God, displayed a servant-like graciousness in life and on the Cross toward those who persecuted Him. While on the Cross, He asked His Father to “forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Cf. Luke 23:34).
What should we do when we are called to suffer?
(1 Peter 3:8-17; 1 Timothy 1:5a; 2 Timothy 3:10-17; Acts 4:1-21; 8:1-6; James 1:26; cf. Psalm 34:19; Acts 14:15-17)