Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and while speaking lies, say every evil thing against you because of Me. (12) Rejoice and exult Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
When others reproach us, we may endure it; when they persecute us, we may not speak back. But enduring and shutting up are not enough. If we only endure and shut up, we are already defeated. The world can endure and shut up as well. The [Buddhist] monks can do the same, and so can the scholars of Confucius. We should be different from them. When others reproach us, we should be able to say, "Praise and thank the Lord." We should consider it a joy that others reproach us. When others persecute us, we should thank and praise the Lord and consider this a matter of joy. If our victory is a genuine victory, we should rejoice and exult. If victory merely means suffering reproach, it is just human work. Human work results in suppression, while every work of the Lord results in joy and exultation. If we did not get it yet, he [Paul] would repeat it once more--that we should rejoice. The life that God gives is a life of joy. Rejoicing is the daily life of a Christian. There may be tribulations and trials, but there is still rejoicing. The opposite of rejoicing is being anxious. Many people are anxious for their children, their money, or their business. But the Word of the Lord says, "In nothing be anxious" (Phil. 4:6). We think that anxiety is justified, but the Lord says, "In nothing be anxious." This is because we should always rejoice.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, The Overcoming Life, pp. 166-167, 152. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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