8 ATTITUDES THAT GOD WILL BLESS US FOR HAVING (FROM THE BEATITUDES); Day 8 Rejoicing and Gladness when Persecuted

We know that everyone is different, with different personalities, but even though this is true, everyone experiences similar emotions, attitudes and experiences. Most of the time we feel alone during these life experiences, but we are not! In fact, it’s so common that God wrote about this very topic!  Therefore, join us as we focus on 8 attitudes that God will bless us for having. So, todays focus attitude is Rejoicing and Gladness when Persecuted.

*Every Monday for 8 weeks, I will post an attitudes that God will bless us for having. I will do this until we cover all 8 attitudes (links below) *

ATTITUDE AND BLESSING

Attitude: REJOICING AND GLADNESS WHEN PERSECUTED
Blessing: Great Reward in Heaven
Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12, Luke 6:22-23

MEANING AND APPLICATION

Meaning:

We should be happy that people treat us badly because they see the light in us, because we are children of God. It can be hard to Rejoice and be Glad when Persecuted.

Is it easy to rejoice and be glad because of persecution? As hard as this sounds, God calls us to rejoice and be glad when someone treats us badly because of our faith.

Life Experience:

EXAMPLE 1:  The first example is a specific life experience of one of my children. When she was in kindergarten the assignment was to bring in your favorite book and read part of it in front of class. She was VERY shy, and would not do anything in front of the class. In this instance she was all ready to read from her favorite book in front of class! When it was her turn she willing went to her cubby, got her favorite book out, and was ready to read to everyone. Her teacher was so excited because this was a huge step for her, until she seen my daughters favorite book, her Bible. Her teacher would not allow her to read it. Our daughter refused the offer to read any other book that was in the classroom. It was her Bible or nothing at all. Her Rejoicing and Gladness when Persecuted came later. A couple kids in her class asked her to read her book to them when the teacher wasn’t around (and yes, she did just that).

This life experience is a form of persecution because she wasn’t allowed to do something because of her faith. My daughter didn’t make a scene, but she was very matter of fact about it. As a family we rejoiced and was glad that through this persecution at a young age she was able to express her faith, and her teacher was able to see it. Because of events like these in our life God has great blessings waiting for us in Heaven.

EXAMPLE 2: Jesus says that when people persecute you, hate you, exclude you, revile you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for His sake, you will be blessed by a great reward in Heaven. Before we have the reward waiting for us, we need to have the attitude He calls us to have. This is an attitude that rejoices and is glad when it happens or because it happens.

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 5:1-12

​ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 6:20-23

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
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,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

Attitudes that God will bless us for having

DAY 1: POOR SPIRIT
DAY 2: MOURNING/SADDNESS
DAY 3: MEEKNESS
DAY 4: HUNGERING AND THIRSTING FOR RIGHEIOUSNESS
DAY 5: MERCIFUL
DAY 6: PURE IN HEART
DAY 7: PEACEMAKER
DAY 8: REJOICING AND GLADNESS WHEN PERSECUTED

References:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We hope you search our Free Bible Studies from Christian Fellowshipping for more encouraging ways to fellowship with God and other believes.