MANNA FROM 11 FEBRUARY
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you — Matt. 5:11, 12.
Opposition and persecution are the inevitable concomitants of activity in the service of God, and they should be met with reason and candor; and when these fail of their purpose, then, with solemn warnings of the dangers of such a course, the wilful opposer should be left to pursue his own course while we turn to others with the message of salvation. In the opposition which our Lord incurred and the manner in which He met it, there are valuable lessons for all who are similarly tried.
On account of Satan's putting all the advantages of the present on the side of sin, error, selfishness and worldliness, those who take God's side of righteousness, truth, love and Kingdom-mindedness, must expect and bear persecution. Let them not fear, however, for therein they enjoy the companionship in spirit, not only of the faithful of the Old Testament, but also of Jesus, the Apostles and the saints and martyrs of the New Testament, and their crown of rejoicing will be their sharing with Jesus in the Kingdom.
Matt. 5:10, 44; 10:16, 17, 21-23, 28; 23:34, 35; 24:8-10; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 6:22, 23; 21:12-19; John 15:18, 19; 16:1, 2; Acts 5:29, 40-42; 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 4:8-12; 6:4, 5, 8-10; 11:23-27; 12:10; Phil. 1:12-14; Heb. 11:25-27, 33-38; 1 Pet. 4:12-19; Rev. 2:3, 10.
