Rejoicing while being hated.

Scripture:
“Blessed are you when people hate you, 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 (NIV)


Application:
How can we be glad when we are excluded and hated? If we try to understand through our human eyes, we can't. But if we focus on two things, we can.
First, cry toward heaven, and through our tears, we'll see our reward. Second, we are in good company. Saints who had magnificent records were hated for the same reasons we are.
Now, rejoice. Jesus told us to rejoice.


Prayer:
We want to be happy in the face of their exclusion and hatred of us. We are so grateful that You completely understand us, Lord Jesus! Amen.