April 12, 2018 – Matthew 5:11-12

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. Matthew 5:11-12.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4.

Our response to disaster in our lives can take many roads.  Victim-hood, complaints, anger, or jealousy. It is when we learn to trust our Father in Heaven, and follow His One and Only Son, He turns our anger and jealousy to contentment, victim-hood into hope, and complaints into praise.

Instead of striking out, we can help out and let Jesus shine through us to love others.  When I was a little girl, my delight was found on a hill overlooking the lights of a small city, in a car with my brothers and parents. The lights twinkled in the early evening beckoning me to our home, where I belonged.

Even as Jesus is the light and the way, His light shines through us and our responses to life.  Glorifying our Heavenly Father with our lives is our foremost goal in our life.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Matthew 5:14-16.