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

We must be sanctified by the Word of God because Christ has called us to live a life of faith which is radically different from the world. Jesus teaches we are to find divine happiness or complete joy through a life of persecution for living like Him. How are we ever to respond in such a way that is so unnatural to us? Apart from the Lord, this is impossible. There some conflicts which are too great to cope with, let alone find joy in.

The apostle Paul gives us spiritual insight as to how we are able to find happiness through hardships. Paul was one who experienced severe persecutions, imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times Paul received thirty-nine lashes, three times Paul was beaten with rods, he once was stoned, and three times Paul was shipwrecked all for living totally for the Lord. But it was in the suffering that God revealed the secret to great power through the grace of God.
“And He said to me, ‘My GRACE is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:9-10. Here is a man who found such great power, such great energy, and ability from the grace of God that he actually began to welcome sufferings and trials in his life. Time and time again he experienced victory after victory against all odds. Paul began to realize there was absolutely no trial the Lord would lead him through that the grace of God could not keep him.

Maybe you feel unsupported at home or clash with your teenager as you raise them in the Lord. You may find yourself having to decline a promotion because you were asked to do something ethically wrong. Maybe you were judged for sharing your faith. In those moments ask the Lord to strengthen you by His grace knowing that God will reward you with great blessing. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear.” (Psalms 46:1)

His grace alone,
Pastor Kyle Shimazaki