16/06/2020
*OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL* .
DATE: *TUESDAY 16TH JUNE, 2020* .
THEME: *PARTAKERS OF HIS SUFFERING* .
*MEMORIZE* :
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. *Matthew 5:10*
BIBLE READING:
*MARK 10:29-30*
*29* . And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
*30* . But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
*MESSAGE* :
When the departure time of our Lord Jesus drew near, He told His disciples such things as would befall them, so they would not be caught unawares. The fact that the disciples would suffer hatred was central to this particular discussion.
*John 15:20* says:
*''Remember, the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.''*
Jesus warned His disciples ahead that the world would hate them because it had hated Him first. Jesus suffered hatred in the form of defamation, misrepresentation, rejection, harassment, assault, abuse, crucifixion and finally, murder.
*In essence, Jesus made it clear that His disciples should be prepared to receive similar treatment from the people. This prophecy was not limited to those physically present with Him at that time, but applies to all who will come after Jesus and live as true disciples* .
Christians are presently suffering untold hardship, insecurity, harassment, brutality, assault and murder in various parts of the world. Indeed, Jesus said that a time was coming when a person would kill a Christian and consider it a favour to God *(John 16:2 )* .
If you are a true child of God, you should be able to declare lik
