Session 6

Following Jesus doesn’t always make friends

From Luke: A 24-Day Devotional

“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets" (Luke 6:22-23).

Jesus doesn’t just speak these words from Luke 6, He lives them out. He is consistently ridiculed for doing the work of the Father. When we are hated and reviled for loving Jesus, we can look to Christ as our example of how to be ambassadors of truth.

Jesus assures us that the worst the world can throw at us cannot compare to the joy of a relationship with the Lord of all. We have Christ now and for all eternity! From everlasting to everlasting we will know the sweetness of God. He is more beautiful than the sun, moon and stars. Our reward in heaven is the enjoyment of God's glory forever.

Paul writes, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, Romans 8:37-39).”

God's love given through Christ should lead us to a joy in all situations and the hope of an eternity to come. Rejoice that God gives Himself as our reward. May we find strength to endure in Jesus' name and continue to treasure the Lord above all things.

Reflect:

• How do you respond when people do not agree with your faith in Jesus?
• What is one way you can find strength in Jesus during tough situations?
• What is one way you can you fix your eyes on Jesus rather than messy circumstances around you?