You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. — Matthew 5:10-12, The Message

The great 19th century preacher, Charles H. Spurgeon, coined the famous saying:
God had a Son that had no fault, but He never had a son that was not found fault with.
He went on to say,
Great hearts can only be made by great troubles.
Jesus Himself laid out the course of life for all of His followers when he said,
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. (John 15:20)
[Read more…] about Devotions: Beatitudes (8) — Persecution