Rejoice And Be Exceeding Glad - Matthew 5:12

 Rejoice, And Be Exceeding Glad

Matthew 5:12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

    Laughing in the face of danger will cause consternation and frustration to some of those who come against us. But a few will wonder where our strength lies. They will seek us out to speak with us, to hear about our faith in our God and His gospel. 

    In the cover of night Nicodemus came to Jesus with his questions. [John 3:1-21]. And Jesus answered him. 

    In the dark of night Judas betrayed Jesus to a crew of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. [John 18:3]. They didn't seek Him out to know Him better: they were there to arrest Him. 

    It is not the night that gives us away. It is the motives of the heart which determine the seeker's intentions towards God and God's people. 

    Every prophet of God from Old Testament times into these New Testament times, who remains faithful to God in their hearts and their actions and their words, has been or will be, a thorn in the unbelieving heart. 

    For example, Elisha was minding his own business, walking through town headed towards the religious school in that area, when he was accosted by young boys shouting at him, making fun of him for being one of God's prophets (and thereby mocking The God Elisha served). [2 Kings 2:23,24]. 

    The men who answered to Daniel were jealous of his position in the king's court and sought to denigrate him with the king. Hence, the decree which King Darius signed without considering the consequences. One might think this an unkingly thing to do, but kings are just people, too, and they make mistakes. [Daniel 6]. 

    Obadiah, the shortest book in the Old Testament, written about a vision that prophet had concerning the destruction of Edom, Esau's descendants who also inherited Esau's hate for Jacob/Israel. Though on the surface they appeared to ally themselves with Israel, beneath that exterior brewed hate and envy towards her. [Obadiah 1 {cf} 2 Chronicles 20]. 

    Hate and envy. Towards God's people and the relationship they have with their God. Towards God for the blessings He gives some, but not others. Yet, if they who hate God would only revere and love God, these same blessings which God has given His people, would be given to they who once were not His people, but now are become His people. 

    The Light Shining In The Darkness will shine His Light into the hearts of men and women who seek to know Him and Who He Is. Rejoice, and be glad. Be overly filled with such great joy in the knowledge of God's saving grace within us that the abundance of grace which God has blessed us with pours into someone else's life. 

WELCOME HOLY SPIRIT - Hilde M. Bedsvaag

LORD REIGN IN ME - Vineyard Music