Welcome back. Great is His faithfulness.
Note: there was a light blinking in the background of my video. It is unexplained because the light was off in the room and I noticed no glare before shooting this video. I find it beautiful once you listen to my video and watch when this light blinks very interesting.
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
As children of God we are to uphold the truth and we are to refuse to compromise with the ways of this fallen world, and not give ourselves to no other than to God - (Matthew 6:24, 33; see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Like Jesus we could all be persecuted for righteousness' sake- (see also John 15:18-20). Christ's Kingdom in s the crown awaiting the righteous. By suffering persecution for Christ, means we are walking the same path of the prophets, saints, as well as all the martyrs. Greek for BE E CEEDINGLY GLAD, means to "leap exceedingly with joy." (See also Acts 5:40-41).
Matthew 16:18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it.
Peter's confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God is what they Church is built on that rock that confession, meaning Christ is the ROCK the foundation we build on, like Peter we all need to be a rock with the same confession even in our days of persecution, bear your CROSS today and follow Christ.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
According the commentary of the Orthodox Study Bible, in the true temple there is one offerer, one priest, who again, is Christ. Baptism we are all anointed with grace and as priests in the Kingdom of God; the spiritual Kingdom is also the spiritual priesthood. As the Body of Christ, we have a duty to minister to the world, and fulfilling the very PRAISES OF HIM who called us OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.
Peter encourages us all the same way Moses did see Deuteronomy 7:6: 6 “For you are a [a]holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
Read Acts 5:41 it's part of the prayer focus for the devotional - The Chosen 40 days with Jesus Book 3, Gray book. See my video for the rest of the devotional and the discussion and reflection.
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared W Campbell