“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 5:12
When children are slow to wake up in the morning, parents may take drastic measures. It can be rather startling when those curtains fly open or when the light switches on to push out the darkness and make way for the bright morning light.
In some ways, that’s what happened in the 1st century. Long lay the world in darkness, completely lost, dead in sin. And then BOOM! The Savior of the world broke through heaven and into our world. The light of the gospel began to shine and spread over the Roman Empire and beyond. For many, the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection transformed their lives. They were attracted to the light by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Still for others, the light was a great irritation. It revealed their sin. They wanted nothing to do with it. Some even tried to snuff out the light of the gospel by persecuting Christians and the church. But the testimonies of the early Jesus followers are astonishing. They “rejoiced” and were “glad” when they were persecuted because they trusted fully in Him.
In some ways, that’s what happened in the 1st century. Long lay the world in darkness, completely lost, dead in sin. And then BOOM! The Savior of the world broke through heaven and into our world. The light of the gospel began to shine and spread over the Roman Empire and beyond. For many, the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection transformed their lives. They were attracted to the light by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Still for others, the light was a great irritation. It revealed their sin. They wanted nothing to do with it. Some even tried to snuff out the light of the gospel by persecuting Christians and the church. But the testimonies of the early Jesus followers are astonishing. They “rejoiced” and were “glad” when they were persecuted because they trusted fully in Him.
Scripture Focus
Matthew 5:10-16
Insight
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.” (Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Kings 9-10
- Proverbs 4
- Hebrews 3-4
