Joy | August 1
Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven…
“Nevertheless do not rejoice… that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 6:22-23, Luke 10:20
Father, what a wonderful truth; if we are reviled by men because of our witness of You, it is a moment of joy, not of persecution. Help us understand that we are never to consider persecution due to our witness to be a problem; just the opposite. Unwarranted persecution is a confirmation of our love. It is a fact Jesus that Your love will grow deeper for us as we declare You before men.
Even in our witness, we seem empowered by You to speak boldly but keep us Father from pride. Help us not to think, even for a minute, that the grace and love we extend to others is from our personal resources. It is You in us that makes it possible for us to transfer that same love You have willingly given to us. Thank You for Your love. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project