Of the Persecuted
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Jail Deserved.
Jail Undeserved.
Same Grace Response from God.
Psalms 107:10-15
Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Their hearts were bowed down with hard labour; they fell down, with no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Words of Grace For Today
Some earn their persecution, punished in jail. Some inmates do not; they are not in jail because they are guilty of a crime, but because someone lied, and not a little.
Others are persecuted because they stood up for their faith: for righteousness, for justice for others, to stop abuses, to exercise love for others.
God hears the pleas of all these; all persecuted for their faith or for their own wickedness, or simple because someone else is wicked and framed them, lying to the police and the courts.
God hears the pleas of us all.
God answers with mercy. The wicked are forgiven. Those persecuted for their faith are saved and blessed yet again.
God desires more than anything else for us sinners to repent, to turn to God and live out the forgiveness God offers us, extending that same forgiveness to others.
Quite the plan God has, to bring us all in, to come home, to live with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God each day, and with other sinners (some of whom are saints at the same time.)
Home today.
Sounds good.
Sounds wonderful.
Sounds like the most abundant life can get.