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Topic: Blessings with Persecutions
[DCLM Daily Manna 6 August 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Mark 10:28-34 (KJV)
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Key Verse: “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time … with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30).
MESSAGE:
The idea of persecution or suffering evokes a sense of unease or fear in the heart of man. This is because the flesh abhors any form of inconvenience or discomfort. Yet the Scriptures enjoin believers to “count it all joy when [they] fall into divers temptations (trials)”. So what is there to rejoice about in suffering?
In answer to Peter’s question about what would likely be their lot for having abandoned “all” to follow Him, Jesus gave assurance to all His followers that they would receive “a hundredfold now” of all they had given up and in the world to come, eternal life. He further explained to them what was to befall Him at Jerusalem where He was to pay the ultimate price with His life for the redemption of mankind.
God’s ways and thoughts are different from those of men. They are beyond the comprehension of man. Christ suffered, “the just for the unjust … leaving us an example that we should follow his steps…” (1 Peter 3:18; 2:21). So, the Christian’s calling includes suffering for righteousness. This is because the enemy will do all he can to destabilise and frustrate him and to make him lose focus on his way to heaven.
As believers in this present world, we are expected to face all forms of trials in our Christian race. Even Christ admitted that our walk with Him would expose us to persecution, because the “world knoweth him not”. However, He assures us that we are more than conquerors. Thus, instead of regretting for the insults and assaults coming from the world, we should “rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great [will be our] reward in heaven”.
Thought For The Day: There is no crown without a cross.
The Bible In One Year: Nehemiah 5–7
