In Matthew 10:22, Jesus warned His disciples that they would experience hatred in this world because of Him. Then, He shared a tall glass of hope by telling them that whoever remained firm, enduring the hatred until the end, would be saved for eternity. This by far is the greatest reward for being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
In case you’ve spent a precious portion of your life deeply concerned about this, the reason you constantly face persecution is because you’ve chosen to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. This is also the reason for the blind hatred you often receive through the people of this world. Did you notice I said through the people and not from the people of this world? Ephesians 6:12 shares that our battles are not with those who look like us, but rather the unseen powers of darkness and evil entities that function through and around them. Now, take a moment to exhale in relief of knowing that the rejection, hatred, and persecution is not directly concerning you, but our Savior Jesus Christ. And although it is nothing short of painful, Jesus prepared us for these moments.
In Matthew 16:24 (NIV), Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Now, imagine what Jesus’ persecution not only looked like, but felt like, even prior to carrying His cross. And just because He was the son of God in human form on earth, didn’t mean that His life was as sweet as apple pie either. Jesus was perfect, and still dealt with rejection, hatred, and persecution. I mean, He was even spat on after being hung on the cross, as if nailing Him there without a justifiable reason wasn’t mentally and physically agonizing enough! But Jesus knew that He had to fulfill His purpose, and He did. And so should we.
Today, over two thousand years later, the persecution Jesus faced continues with His disciples all over the world; and depending on where you live, it could be as gruesome as what Jesus experienced on the cross. This means that we are still living in the same ole evil world, with the same ole evil leader in charge, Satan! However, the same God that sent Jesus to the cross to die, and then raised Him from the dead, is the same sovereign God over the universe today. Satan has absolutely nothing on God!
So my friend, all along, your persecution was, is, and will always be connected to King Jesus, and that’s a huge compliment! It means that your presence carries His light and you allow His light to shine through you. Demons typically begin to manifest through others because they are afraid of what and Who you carry inside of you. Your light illuminates the reality of others, helping them see their imperfections and iniquities, which probably doesn’t feel pleasant. But don’t be fooled, people are more drawn to you than you might imagine, simply because you carry the light of Christ magnificently well. Yes, the Glory of God looks amazing on you!
So, just remember, whenever you feel weak, tired, and ready to give up, there’s still that tall glass of hope that reminds us of our glorious eternity with Him. Take a sip of the Living Water of God, and It will always give you the strength you need to keep on keeping on. Just like in Luke 22:42, when Jesus requested that God remove all the suffering he was enduring. Immediately following His request, Jesus remembered that His suffering was still God’s plan for the redemption of humanity, and He surrendered to God yet again. In that very moment, God sent Jesus an angel to restore His strength.
On this journey, God will continue to nurture, nourish, and replenish you, especially when you feel incapable of keeping on. Peter 5:8-11 reminds us that persecution won’t last forever, and your brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world are enduring the same sufferings. You may often feel lonely, but it’s impossible for you to be alone. This is because Immanuel, your God, is always with you. Even now, angels surround you waiting for your next command or God’s instructions concerning your life.
We are all a work in progress, yet we are chosen by God to be ambassadors for Jesus Christ! Even when our lives are a complete train wreck, God still cleans us up, and proudly shows the world that we are His children. As I continue to write, I’m envisioning God holding up a brightly shining baby, proudly showing you off to the world. This vision reminds me of the moment God said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I Am well-pleased in Matthew chapter 17:5, validating the work of Jesus Christ. You are making God extremely proud, and not only will He validate you, but He will also vindicate you for the world to see throughout your life. God is about to prepare the finest table for you, right in front of your enemies, as referenced in the 23rd Psalm. My friend, you are such a beautiful beacon of God’s Glorious light exposing what’s hidden in the darkness of the earth, and sometimes what’s hidden includes the wicked deeds, intentions, and characteristics of others.
Ephesians 5:11 (NLT) – Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you’ve been causing His name to ring in the ears of many, and many souls will be blessed because of that. You are definitely a walking testament of Jesus Christ! Well-done! God created and sent you to do even greater works than our Savior did in the earth. Now that’s a badge of honor, and you will wear it with pride and joy!
God Bless you all,
Dr. Meyah
