persecuted

I have been thinking about this verse these past couple of days.

Matthew 5:10-12

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

1 Corinthians 4:12 "...when we are persecuted, we endure it"

I have read these verses over and over again through my short period of life and it wasn't until recently that I understood them. I didn't understand why I should rejoice when people talk crap about me because of God. That's great that I have a reward in heaven when I get there, but what about now. I don't want to live my life on earth in persecution waiting for something that I am uncertain when I will receive it. But, as I go through this in my life right now. I read this verse and think God is saying exactly what it says, but also that I can rejoice in the satisfaction that God is going to take care of it. That He is taking the responsibility of it all. He is taking the persecution upon himself and giving His children peace and grace to rest and know that this fight is not against you, but Him and will not allow his children to be brought into the middle of it. Is this making sense? It is so hard to believe this sometimes.

We are to endure it, not fix it. Satan uses us to try to get to God. Satan brings us into the middle of this battle to destroy all that is good, and God ALWAYS flips it around. He uses us for His good. It is so reassuring and at the same time hard as hell to allow God to do what He does best.

This is not our fight. It is His, let Him do it. God knows what needs to be done to win this battle. He has it all planned out. We are his ambassadors and servants as He takes us through the war zone to the promise land.

I hope this makes sense. I think some of it is getting lost in translation.

living wide awake,

Nikki