So Don’t be Surprised, Dear Brothers and Sisters, If the World Hates You – 1 John 3: 13

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  

 Matthew 5: 11-13

Jesus says we are blessed – we are entitled to blessedness when we are wickedly or maliciously spoken against (very different from the sentiments of a vain world).  He says to be happy when we’re persecuted for our faith because (1) persecution takes our eyes off earthly things  (2) it strips away superficial believers  (3) it strengthens and encourages the faith of others (4) our attitude through it serves as an example to those who follow.

If we’re persecuted for Christ, it proves that we have been faithful; faithless people would remain unnoticed.  So that means that we can absolutely rejoice!  Whatever pretense our persecutors have, it is the power of godliness that they have an enmity to; it is really Christ and his righteousness that are maligned, hated, and persecuted.  There is no evil so black and horrid, which, at one time or other, has not been said, falsely, of Christ’s disciples and followers.  Enemies to righteousness are enemies to Christ.

“Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”  Psalm 69: 9

As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”   Romans 8:36