Paying the Price of Righteousness - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness" (Matt. 5:10).

Unlike many today who try to make the gospel palatable for reluctant sinners, Jesus made it clear that following Him had its price. Rather than acceptance, fame, prestige, and prosperity, you can expect rejection and persecution. That's not a popular approach to evangelism, but it's honest. Also it insures that no one will try to enter the kingdom on the wrong basis.

Jesus wanted His hearers to count the cost of discipleship. He knew that many of them would be disowned by their families and excommunicated from the Jewish synagogues. Many would suffer persecution or martyrdom at the hands of the Roman government. They needed to count the cost!

Persecution did come to those early Christians. The Emperor Nero smeared many of them with pitch, crucified them, and then burned them to light his garden parties. He condemned Christians for refusing to worship him as a god, and blamed them for the burning of Rome in [sc]A.D. 64. Christians were accused of cannibalism because Jesus said, "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" (John 6:56). They were said to be revolutionaries because they believed that God would one day destroy the earth.

The world's animosity toward Christians hasn't changed. You might not face the severe persecutions the first-century believers faced, but you will be persecuted (Phil. 1:29). Even new Christians often face difficulties. If they refuse to join their former friends in sinful activities, they might be rejected. If they work for a dishonest boss who expects them to participate in or condone his evil practices, they might be fired or have to quit their jobs. That might bring extreme financial hardship to their families.

God won't always shield you from persecution, but He will honor your integrity and give you strength to endure any trial that comes your way. Praise Him for His all-sufficient grace!

Ask God for the wisdom and strength to face persecution with integrity and unwavering faith.

Prayer For The Protection Of Persecuted Christians

Heavenly Father, we lift up before You the many thousands of Christians around the world who are being cruelly persecuted, abused, tortured and killed and there is little or no outcry about the atrocities that are been perpetrated against so many world-wide. Father, we pray for Your protection from the psychological exhaustion and emotional fear that so many are going through, and we pray that Your Holy Spirit would draw so close to them and protect them. Give them the spiritual strength to endure under such inhumane regimes.

Guard and guide them we pray. Provide for them and empower them to know and experience the love of God, and give them the strength to remain firm in the faith. Enable them we pray, to be fruitful witnesses of the love of Christ, despite the evils and atrocities that are being perpetrated against them. And Father, we ask that they would so grow in grace that they may be able to forgive their persecutors and demonstrate the love of Christ towards those who are dead in their trespasses and sins.

May Your mighty hand of protection be upon all that are suffering in this manner and give them the fixed assurance that God will right every wrong in His own time and in His own way. In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-for-the-protection-of-persecuted-christians-1151

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... for the sake of righteousness