January 24, 2025 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Luke
Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
The Lord Jesus Christ was not crucified for all the good He did, He was crucified for envy; He was crucified for revealing truth and in that, individual truth. Nobody likes to have their sins pointed out nor do they like those who live as Jesus lived.
The Lord states “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you,…for the Son of Man’s sake.
Notice He says, “when” meaning if you live as Jesus lived the reaction of hatred it is inevitable, sometimes overtly and sometimes covertly.
2Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
God tells us, when that happens, to rejoice and leap for joy for your reward is great in heaven.
Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Yes, oh yes, your reward is great in heaven. If you are born-again you have a reward in heaven that cannot be taken away.
What should we do until then?
Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
In other words, rejoice and be nice, love those who hate you, Jesus did.
Remember when Jesus was being persecuted and eventually was crucified on the cross? What did He say while there upon the cross?
Luke 23:34a Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
When you are persecuted, rejoice and leap for joy, your reward in heaven is great and it cannot be taken away.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
