“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.” – Luke 6:22-23, ESV

Tertullian:

"To what else does the Christian devote himself, except the affairs of his own community?… It is for such a notable freedom from crime, for an honesty so great, for righteousness, for purity, for faithfulness, for truth, for the living God, that we are sentenced to the flames."

Clement of Alexandria:

"They persecute us, not from the supposition that we are wrong-doers, but… because of the way we conduct ourselves, and because we exhort others to adopt a similar life."

Lactantius:

"[God] permits persecutions to be carried on against us… so that the people of God may be increased. … Someone will invariably desire to know what that good thing is that is defended even to death. What is it that is preferred to all things that are pleasant and beloved in this life? For neither the loss of goods or the deprivation of light, nor bodily pain, nor tortures of their vital organs can deter Christians from it."

Question for Today

Have you been persecuted on Jesus’ account?

If not, is honesty, faithfulness, truth, or calling others to godly living, lacking in your life?
The Historic Faith