FEAST OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, THE APOSTLE – 24th AUGUST
August 24, 2024
MONTHLY DEVOTIONAL FOR 24 AUGUST
August 24, 2024
24 August, 2024
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:10
Almighty God, you are a God of absolute Perfection and Righteousness. You are Holy and Just, Merciful and Compassionate, Loving and Forgiving. You have given us a command to be meek, humble, generous, merciful, forgiving and most of all, loving, towards our fellowmen. As mortals, we are sinful, and constant targets of wickedness and temptations. Especially so, when we attempt to follow the straight and narrow path of faithfulness and righteousness to our God. We become objects of malice, slander, violence and injustice when we pursue and put forth your Holy Word and your Truth.
Lord, all those who follow the popular formulas of worldliness and pleasure are accepted, but those who seek to please you and to propagate your Holy Word, receive condemnation and persecution and are hunted down and brought low, for daring to pursue the dogma of Righteousness, a doctrine different from the commonplace life of a fallen world, given to avarice and pleasure. The good and straightforward souls are bullied and face ridicule and rejection, and are often pursued and persecuted. But our Lord Jesus has already forewarned us and has established a blessing for those of us who continue doing right, knowing that heavenly rewards are laid up for us and accepting with courage sufferings that will be undergone if we demonstrate genuine righteousness and face rejection.
Jesus elaborates by pointing out that the prophets, who like him announced God’s kingdom, were persecuted. So these words of Jesus about persecution are relevant even today not only because millions of Christians in our global village are being persecuted for their faith, but also because putting God first in our work and home and school and leisure will face some form of opposition sooner or later. We pray that we may be able to stand firm and proclaim our faith, in Jesus’ Name. Amen
