After Peacemaking Comes Persecution

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September 4, 2011


“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

We think that because we are peacemakers, we receive thanks and praise for what we have accomplished.  The beatitudes that Jesus delivered in the Sermon on the Mount give us the steps so that we can become acceptable to God and show the same qualities in our lives that Jesus had.  However, Jesus ends this part by telling us that persecution will follow.  We attempt to carry on the work that Jesus did of bringing God’s peace to everyone, and that includes pointing out sin.  So is it so strange that after peacemaking comes persecution?  Look at the three Hebrew young men in Daniel who took a stand for God and righteousness.  They are just one example out of many.  They would have perished by being burned to death, except that God directly intervened. (Daniel 3:8-18)

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus warned His apostles and all who would follow Him.  The world first hated Him, and since we have responded to His call and live by God’s standards, not the world’s standard, the world will also hate us. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).  Jesus wants us to bring the peace of God to others, and then warns us not to expect peace in return.  We shall be hated by some and loved by some.  Some of those who hate us will hurt us more than others.

One Thanksgiving we had a student preacher over to share our family time.  When he had become a Christian, taking a stand for Jesus, his parents literally had a funeral for him and never saw him again.  We can suffer persecution of a personal nature such as loss of family, friends, and jobs from persecution from family and friends or from a state.

I do not know whether we are blessed by God in our country since we aren’t persecuted.  imagePerhaps we are just too silent and refuse to take a stand.  Look at our brethren in China and Africa who are suffering persecution.  Their faith is being tested by fire.  “So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:7).

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed to us,” (Romans 8:18). Too often we are silent, fearing the consequences when we need to stand for the truth.  Unlike Paul, we do not always look past what is happening at the moment to see eternity. To those who have the courage and strength to obey God no matter the persecution they suffer, they can endure because they know what awaits them.  Let us be about God’s work boldly, following the example given by our Lord Jesus.  There is no real peace that counts in the long run other then the peace of God which passes all understanding.

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Almighty, faithful Father, be with us that we may seek to bring Your peace to the world.  Strengthen our hearts so that we will stand firm for You, our Father, and help us to be faithful no matter what befalls us. In the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.            ~ Ed
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Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado                                 (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)    (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Ed Wittlif, former preacher of Albert Lea Church of Christ in Albert Lea, Minnesota, is a University Church of Chirst member.