Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God. ~ Matthew 5:10
Today's Dare reminds me of the Dare on Day 3 - Take Up Your Cross.
Both are the same in that our faith and relationship with Christ needs to be visible and seen by others. If it's not, then there's no chance of being persecuted. (And, in the words of Jesus - you cannot be my disciple - Luke 14:27).
I don't think given the choice, that I would ever choose persecution. But, if given the choice, I would never deny my Lord.
But , the two usually go hand-in-hand - Persecution and Christianity. It seems those who don't follow Christ (not all, but some) tend to go out of their way to "persecute" christians. They will swear and use the Lord's name in vain purposefully when the Christian is within ear-shot. They will try to tell you unholy jokes. They just try to make you miserable.
If we're persecuted, we are to "count it all joy". I remember once in college talking to some people in the hallway of the dormitory about a Bible study or something on that topic. A few guys walked by, heard what we were saying and starting making crude comments to one another. As they passed by and turned to go up the stairwell (at which I was standing under), one of them spit in my hair. At first, I thought, did he just do what I think he did? And then I got a big smile on my face and thought, "I just got persecuted for being a Christian. Thank you Lord." Whoever thought a loogie in my hair would make me happy.
Now, I don't ever want to have that experience again. It's a disgusting thing, but I knew in that moment that just being a christian brings about persecution in ways we would never consider.
Today, I take the dare to live unashamedly and fearlessly a life marked with godly character no matter persecution I endure.
(For more on "The Discipleship Dare" by Jess Bousa, go to http://www.thediscipleshipdare.com/). Start your dare today!
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