Blessing for Suffering!

Click here to listen to blog 
I saw thrones, and sitting on those thrones were the ones who had been given the right to judge. I also saw the souls of the people who had their heads cut off because they had told about Jesus and preached God's message. They were the same ones who had not worshiped the beast or the idol, and they had refused to let its mark be put on their foreheads or hands. They will come to life and rule with Christ for 1,000 years.  These people are the first to be raised to life, and they are especially blessed and holy. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests for God and Christ and will rule with them for 1,000 years. No other dead people were raised to life until 1,000 years later.

Revelation 20:4-6

It is just as the Bible predicted.  There are those who are having their heads cut off because they are followers of Jesus and refuse to deny Him! 

Someone told me of seeing a picture of a young women who was in a group of Christians who were about to be beheaded for following Jesus.  In the photograph the girl had a big smile on her face as she was apparently calling on the name of Jesus!  You see she must have known that the Bible has this special blessing promised for those who give up their lives for Jesus!

The great thing that Jesus did was to give up His life for you, and He promises to bless you specially if you do the same for Him!

Does that mean that you should seek to be martyred as a follower of Jesus?  Not at all.  You should seek to live every day for Him as long as He leaves you here on this earth.  But if that day ever comes that you must declare your faith in Jesus or lose your life, then at that moment you can know for certain that you will be blessed beyond anyone's imagination for remaining faithful.

"Lord Jesus, help me to know that if that day ever comes when I must lose my life for refusing to deny You, that I will be blessed!  But Lord, the greatest blessing of all is to know You and be filled with Your Spirit!  May You, Lord Jesus be praised forever.  Amen."