City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

²³ Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

–Luke 6:23

¹³ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

–1 Peter 3:13-17

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s verse in Luke advises a totally counterintuitive response when we experience persecution for Christ’s sake: leap for joy! The preceding verse describes in detail the kind of persecution we can expect as followers of Christ: 

²² “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!

–Luke 6:22

How can something as painful as persecution elicit a leap for joy? Verse 23 makes it very clear: “for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for their fathers did to the prophets.” I do not believe Jesus is calling us to deny the pain of persecution, but rather to look beyond it to something much bigger: God’s fellowship and alignment with His will and purpose. 

Suffering for Christ’s sake puts us in the company of the prophets. These were heroes of the faith like Elijah and Isaiah. While they did experience suffering for their faith, they also enjoyed a very rich and deep relationship with God. Their suffering was not without purpose. 

Every form of mistreatment and rejection we endure for Christ puts heaven on notice. Persecution is a divine stamp of approval that authenticates our transformation in Christ and deepens our testimony of faith in Him. 

The hidden deep joy of being a believer–a recipient of God’s grace to sinful humanity–is drawn out when we suffer for Christ. Not only is it an honor and privilege, but also a reason to dance! 

Application

Has deciding to follow Jesus made your life less comfortable? Did your devotion to Christ lead you through some storms? According to today’s verse, rather than mourning over the loss of comfort, these are instances in which we can leap for joy! 

If you are going through a difficult time and you know it’s for righteousness’ sake, this would be an excellent time to play some worship music (see a suggested song selection below) and start dancing! Twirl around and maybe even leap! Let this be an expression of the eternal victory you have in Christ!

If you are in a calm season right now, enjoy that too, and let it be a time to prepare your heart for any rocky roads ahead. Stay alert for any opportunities to share Christ with those God is placing along your path.

Prayer

Father God, I thank You from the bottom of my heart for making Yourself known to me. I am so incredibly blessed to say that I am not a stranger to You. I am honored to let Your light shine through me in every season–good and hard. Even in the most difficult time, You have given me a reason to dance! In Jesus’ Name, amen.