“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:12 KJV)

We live in a world filled with trials, troubles, difficulties of many kinds. All of them have come upon us because of our across-the-board reality that we are all sinners. This is because “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Jesus has come to change our lives, our eternity and our view in the midst of the trials on earth. This is why Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with blessings to those who will follow Him. These blessings come to us in the trials of life, with the transformation which comes to us through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

In the last of the Beatitudes, Jesus explains what will happen to us through the trials of living for Him daily. “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 5:10-11) Through all the trials we are to rejoice. We witness this as the Apostles stood before the Sanhedrin after teaching in the Temple and being flogged. “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:41)

While persecution is not the only trial that we face on this earth, no matter what they are we are to rejoice. We rejoice because we have a home being prepared for us. Jesus said, “I go and prepare a place for you.” (John 14:3) We have a home, and this should cause us to rejoice no matter what we face in this life. Paul would tell us, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

Peter adds to our understanding of rejoicing through difficulties. “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13) Everything we face in this life is to grow our faith in God. Through our trials we gain a taste of what Jesus went through for us to gain us our salvation. When we face a trial, it is to bring joy because of what Jesus has done for us, bringing us into our relationship with God and  providing our eternity with Him. “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:6b-7)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block