Devotion 10/7, Come Holy Spirit

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 5:11-12

We need to pray for other believers throughout the world who are undergoing the wrath of hell for their faith. We live where we are pretty cozy. “Our” persecution is more of an inconvenience compared to those around the world.
Around the world, believers in Christ are enduring perhaps the greatest amount of persecution in the history of Christianity. Pray!
Lord help us to do as Romans 12:1 says and “give our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God in spiritual worship”. The in dwelling of the Holy Spirit will strengthen our resolve to endure life’s race.
Those that mock or persecute believers and followers of Jesus Christ do so for two reasons:
1) accountabilty-believers know that on judgement day we will be held accountable for the lives we’ve lead. But by the blood of Christ we are cleansed. Without Him in our lives, we would be condemned for eternity.
Non-believers don’t want to hear that. They want to do what they want, when they want regardless of circumstances and with no accountability.
2) Fear-when Christ is in our lives, the Holy Spirit leads us in our decision making. We don’t settle, we follow a spiritual decision. People of power, governments, fear believers not fearing them. They could lose some of their power over us.
When we boil it down, it’s eternal life or eternal damnation. There is no in between. Believers understand their path and have hope. Non-believers have no hope, thus they live theirs lives in fear.
Pray that our Lord and Savior is revealed to them in their hearts. Endure the mocking, for we know our destiny.

Thank You Jesus for shedding Your blood for the forgiveness of my sins. Help me to live a life that is pleasing and honoring to You, for Your glory. In your holy name, Jesus I pray. Amen!

I pray for each of you whatever your circumstance, for healing, or perseverance through rough times. Jesus heals when we submit to him. God has a plan for each of us, from conception to our final resting place. I pray I learn from my trials so I can help others through theirs. I pray the name of Jesus.