“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. Mt.5.11-12 NKJV
I think that Jesus is not telling us to be happy about persecutions that come our way, but about them in so far as they reveal the company we keep. And, He is not referring to the company of those persecuting us but to that company of godly men and women who have suffered for His cause. We keep good company when we are branded by persecutions for His sake.
Now Christ is also not talking about persecutions which come to us for our own sake. Many Christian’s are persecuted because they have made themselves offensive and obnoxious to others by having anything but a gentle and quiet spirit. Many are persecuted because they are being stupid not because they have the spirit of the prophets.
But all who name Christ are promised persecution even if it is the gradual coldness of old friends who perhaps feel uncomfortable around the presence of Christ in them. 10/1/07 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
