Command 3: Rejoice | Day 16

We must never forget that we are in constant combat. The lives of those under our care and concern depend upon our success. In warfare, one of the most effective tactics of the enemy is a surprise attack. This tactic is used by Satan in the poison darts of reviling.

“Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9).

This prophetic Psalm experienced by David is repeated in Psalm 55:12–14: “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.”

Truth embraced and lived out divides. Jesus made this clear when He stated: “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Jesus Himself demonstrated this division when He presented truth that required a life change. Many of His followers were offended and walked no more with Him. (See John 6:66.) His betrayal was carried out by the least suspected disciple, since Judas had the only appointed position—the position of treasurer. (See John 13:29.)

Surprise attacks also produce surprise results in those who are watching.

When I watched my father take a stand for righteous living and walk away from being the president of his company, I said to myself, “If he can do it in the business world, I can do it in my high school.” I then began a series of projects that would explain the Gospel to every classmate.

Surprise attacks came, not from my classmates, but from the superintendent. One day he called me into his office and demanded, “Are you trying to convert our student body?” I respectfully but enthusiastically stated that this was my intended goal. He then threatened that if I didn’t stop a pre-school prayer meeting in the cafeteria, he would send a letter to every single family in our town telling them what he thought about “my faith.”

But God has the last word! During those years I was meditating on the Scripture day and night and saw God’s blessings in every area of my life. So one day the superintendent had to congratulate me before the entire student body for winning a Future Scientist of America contest. Then at graduation he had to present to me a special scholarship fund collected by grateful fellow students!

Let’s purpose now to rejoice whenever we are reviled. It will cause people to take a deeper look at what they are reacting to!

Through Christ our Lord,

Bill Gothard

Command 3: Rejoice | Day 15

A positive outlook on our daily circumstances is essential for success. However, if our perception makes no allowance for the ongoing conflict between good and evil and the ultimate triumph of good, we will be disillusioned. Thus, we are given the third command to rejoice.

Command Three: (Matthew 5:11–12).

The more we meditate on this command, the more we will tap into the rich treasures of God’s way of life. These treasures are based on the premise that we will experience unexpected rewards and also bring spiritual life to “light haters” if we respond properly to their attacks.

When one becomes a follower of Jesus and ceases to do the things that worldly friends are doing, these friends will often feel guilty about their own evil ways. At that point they have a choice: either respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin and repent or react to God’s standards demonstrated in the believer’s life.

Peter describes this conflict by stating that worldly friends will “think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (I Peter 4:4). Isaiah also spoke of this reaction when he said, “Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey” (Isaiah 59:15).

In spite of this vicious reaction, we are told to “rejoice, and be exceeding glad.” Therefore, God knows something that we don’t know about the great benefit and rewards of being reviled for doing good, and this is what we want to discuss this week.

One’s emotional response when his good is evil spoken of reveals his level of maturity in the ways of God.

As a young boy I saw Matthew 5:11–12 in action. My father was the executive director of a civil engineering publishing company. The papers were in order for him to become the president and to enjoy a very high salary. He was the favorite of the outgoing boss, who would become the chairman of the board, until my father became a believer and was not able to participate in the promotion of things related to the liquor industry.

His good favor with the boss diminished, and soon he faced an ultimatum: either violate his conscience or leave his job. When he made the decision to leave the company, with a wife and six children to support and no prospect of a new job, he received further reviling from unexpected sources. In tomorrow’s e-mail I will tell you what actually happened because of his decision.

Through Christ our Lord,

Bill Gothard