Devotional Email for Jul 16

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Luke 6:22-23 New International Version (NIV)
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

"Blessed" is a very important word. Being blessed is having the "power to prosper". When you are blessed, you have the power, the ability to succeed in life. Jesus is revealing one of God's ways of empowering his people.

Imagine leaping for joy. When was the last time you leaped for joy? Some people would have to say "never". Since Jesus is saying that we should leap for joy then this must be something to get excited about. It must be something extra special and glorious. I have to change my thinking to consider "hatred" and "rejection" as reasons to leap for joy. The key to understanding this is in Gal 6:7-9.

Galatians 6:7-9 New International Version (NIV)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

When you walk in love (sow to the spirit) when others mistreat you then you will reap a harvest that is worth leaping for joy. Your blessings will be something to shout about.

Speak the Word:Father, I rejoice when I am mistreated. I shout and leap for joy when I am treated badly because my reward is great.

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