PERSECUTE

We all feel persecution from time to time. Jesus said that as followers of Him we should expect it. That life was not going to be easy as a Christian. Really if it is easy then you probably aren't doing something right.

Paul says to bless those that persecute you. Later in Chapter 12 of Romans he quotes from Proverbs 25:21-22 "If your enemy is hungry feed him, if he is thirsty give him a drink, for in doing so you heap coals of fire on his head." (Romans 12:20) Do you think maybe Paul had experienced some of these coals on his head? He did persecute Christian before Christ got hold of him on the road to Damascus. I think when Stephen was being stoned, he was praying for God to bless those who were stoning him. Paul was right there holding the coats of the men who were throwing the rocks. He was an accomplice. Then after Jesus appeared to him and he became a Christian himself, his life was turned upside down. Now, he knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of persecution.

It is hard to turn the other cheek or to go the extra mile. We so often want to seek vengence. God says getting vengence is His job, not ours. Leave that to Him. Pray for the people who persecute you.

Lord, help me to be kind to everyone even when they are not kind to me.

The Quote:

"Bless those who persecute you" ~Romans 12:14a

The Drawing: