1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 9a - Blessed are those who are persecuted _1_ | Page 5

in light of the fact that they are crazy about the example of Jesus and about the
cause of Christ.
People who are happy to lay down their lives for Christ do it because the leader
of the Christian faith, Jesus, did it as well. You see, the leader sets the pace. We
need to beware of leaders who ask us to do what they are not willing to do, but
when the leader subjects himself to such persecution, it goes without saying that
his followers will be willing to do the same.
The followers of Jesus have always been crazy about the cause of Christ. They
have believed that the cause for which they stand is a cause worth dying for.
Such is the extent of their love for Christ that they are willing to subject
themselves, without fighting back, to such hardship and persecution; there must
be something about the cause of Jesus that creates within true Christians such a
deep commitment.
We should not be surprised by this persecution, because not only does history
speak of it, but Jesus Himself made reference to it many times. Our reading
today is just one of those references. Jesus wants Christians to know that when
they choose to follow His example and live out His cause they will be opening
themselves to potential persecution. Jesus never tried to hide this fact from
anyone, and spoke very matter-of-factly about it; He wanted every Christian to
know that so deep was the love required for Him that it may lead to an untimely
death.
As I write this, I cannot help but look around and see how blessed we are in our
freedom to worship Christ.I cannot help but believe too, that persecution like
this will certainly sort out the “men from the boys”. I sometimes wonder if we
were being subjected to such brutal persecution, how many of us would stand?
How many of us would pass the test? Today, as you continue to pray for those
who are being persecuted, won’t you evaluate your own Christian faith on the
basis of this question. Bear in mind too that I believe that God gives special
grace and power to those who suffer to this extent, where, without a doubt, His
strength is made perfect in our weakness (II Corinthians 12 v 9) and I believe
that many will be able to stand for Christ under these circumstances, having
received the exceptional power of God to do so. Let’s continue today to pray for
them.

Prayer Thought: Pray today for the spouses of Christians who are dragged away
from their families and put in prisons, who suffer torture for the cause of Christ.
These spouses have been left to raise children and many of them too, are