Perseguição
Jesus advertiu que seus seguidores seriam perseguidos pelo mundo. Mas a perseguição não é sinal de fracasso — é sinal de fidelidade. Bem-aventurados os que sofrem por causa da justiça.
Perseguição como marca do discípulo
Jesus disse: se o mundo vos odeia, sabei que antes de vós odiou a mim. Todo o que quer viver piedosamente será perseguido.
18 If the world hate you, consider that it hated me, before it hated you.
12 And all, indeed, who will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall be persecuted:
10 Happy they who suffer persecution on account of righteousness; for the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
11 Happy shall you be, when men shall revile and persecute you; and, on my account, accuse you falsely of every evil thing!
22 Happy shall you be when men shall hate you, and separate your from their society; yes, reproach and defame you, on account of the Son of Man!
Recompensa na perseguição
Os perseguidos por causa de Cristo receberão grande galardão no céu. Quem perde por amor ao evangelho receberá cem vezes mais.
29 Jesus answering, said, Indeed, I say to you, there is none who shall have forsaken his house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, for my sake and the gospel's;30 who shall not receive now, in this world, a hundred fold; houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the future state, eternal life.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
10 Wherefore, I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses, for Christ's sake; because when I am weak, then I am strong.
Amor e confiança em meio à adversidade
A Bíblia nos ensina a amar nossos perseguidores, abençoar os que nos maldizem e confiar que nossos tempos estão nas mãos de Deus.
44 But I say to you, love your enemies; bless them who curse you; do good to them who hate you; and pray for them who arraign and persecute you;
14 Bless them who persecute you-bless, and curse not.
8 Be sober, be vigilant: your adversary, the devil, is walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour:
7 and I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?