Friday September 9, 2022

Today is Friday, September 9 and we are praying through the Beatitudes.

Loving God, as a new day begins I breathe deeply and pause to rest in You. Quiet my mind, still my wandering thoughts and fill my heart with love. Lead me into the mystery of holy silence and hold me close to Your heart.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, I have come here to listen to Your voice and receive the wisdom of Your teaching. Shine your light on the path of my life and reveal the way You want me to proceed in all things. Amen.

I praise the Lord who is my Shepherd. I rejoice in His goodness with the words of Psalm 23.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalm 23:5-6

Pause and Pray

Jesus finishes the Beatitudes pointing to the grim reality his followers will face – persecution. Violent persecution continues to exist in parts of the world today; believers must band together and pray for brothers and sisters who suffer. In the United States, Christians do not normally experience persecution that threatens violence and loss of life. Yet, as John Wesley told his eighteenth century followers, Christians often endure “lighter kinds of persecution” for their faith in Jesus – estrangement from family members, loss of friends, loss of business, employment or income.*

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

Jesus describes the persecution which comes to all the children of God. I should expect people to insult me, torment me, reject me, spread false information about me, tell lies, and say evil things about me that are untrue. Wesley calls this “the very badge of our discipleship” and “one of the seals of our calling”. “If we do not have it, we are illegitimate and not true sons” and daughters of God. Paul reminds me, If I am trying to win the approval of human beings or trying to please people, I am not a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10).*

Ask: When do I prioritize gaining the approval of people over pleasing God? When have I experienced persecution as a follower of Jesus?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and teaching me how to “be” a Christian in today’s world. I am grateful for the Beatitudes and the challenges they place on my spiritual life. Thank You for reminding me that rejection, misunderstanding and unkindness are all things I should expect following you and seeking holiness. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God is speaking to my soul this morning and I endeavor to listen. I consider how forms of persecution have been part of my past and present life. When have I sought righteousness and holiness at costs to my acceptance, advancement or comfort? When have I capitulated to the culture around me and avoided standing firm on God’s truth? What does God want me to know about my spiritual journey and the resistance I might face ahead? I ruminate on the word or phrase that stands out to me and endeavor to carry it throughout my day.

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, bring the gospel of Your truth and enlighten my heart and spirit. Prepare me to endure trials and strengthen me to love those who hate me because of my love for You. Help me to forgive antagonists from the heart, love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. Amen.

We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. 1 Corinthians 4:12-13

*Resources: Sermons on Several Occasions, Volume II – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount: Discourse Three, by John Wesley, edited by William J. Abraham, 2021.

As I leave this time of prayer, I go to show kindness in the midst of strife, to work faithfully for all that is good, and to bless others in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen