Picked on, Poked, and Still Praisin’
Well, great day in the mornin’, Buttercup, git right over here and pull up a steady chair so’s you can be ‘a-gittin’ yourself settled in real good like a lil’ ol’ plump raccoon ‘a-sittin’ on a porch rail ‘cause Matthew 5:11-12 is ‘bout to be ‘a-takin’ us on a ride bumpier than a goat ‘a-tryin’ to be ‘a-ridin’ in a wheelbarrow. Matthew 5:12 done tells us, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” That there verse may be ‘a-soundin’ sweeter than peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream ‘a-meltin’ on top, but it’s ‘a-talkin’ ‘bout somethin’ that done feels ‘bout as pleasant as ‘a-sittin’ on a fire ant hill.
Now let me be ‘a-tellin’ you, Buttercup, that this here persecution ‘sho-nuff’ ain’t nothin’ new. It’s been ‘round longer than lil’ ol’ barn cats and bad biscuits. Paul Schneider done learnt that there the real hard way. Hitler done throwed him into Buchenwald concentration camp, whipped him, hung him up by his wrists, and still this here man kept a-preachin’ like a rooster that done refused to stop ‘a-crowin’. He died at forty one years old, but he never quit his preachin’ on the cross. That there kind o’ grit’d make a real hard-headed, stubborn ol’ mule real proud.
Jesus done warned us in Matthew 24:9-10 that folks’d be ‘a-hatin’ believers, ‘a-betrayin’ each other, and ‘a-actin’ uglier than an ol’ possum stuck in a trash can. And let me be ‘a-tellin you that Jesus wasn’t exaggeratin’ not even one lil’ bit. Christians ‘round the world are still ‘a-facin’ persecution fiercer than an ol’ momma dog ‘a-protectin’ her newborn baby puppies. Even if we’re not ‘a-bein’ tortured, we’ll still be real disliked, mocked, or treated like the odd duck in the flock. Jesus done told us to be expectin’ it. Matthew 5:11 says, “We are blessed when people insult us for His sake.”
Scripture is real full of betrayal stories. Joseph’s brothers sold him. Cain turned on Abel. David had friends who scattered like spooked turkeys in Psalm 38:11. But Jesus done reminds us that persecution ain’t a sign of failure. It’s a real sign we’re ‘a-walkin’ in His footsteps, an’ those footsteps are gonna be ‘a-leadin’ us right on to glory, not defeat.
Paul Schneider once said you can’t be ‘a-sharin’ in Jesus’ great victory unless you be ‘a-takin’ up the cross and ‘a-walkin’ the hard road right along with Him. That there road may git to feelin’ rougher than a bumpy gravel driveway in August, but it ‘sho-nuff’ leads straight to our eternal reward.
Father, be ‘a-helpin’ me to be standin’ real firm when the world done gits to growlin’. Give me courage when I git to feelin’ like a-runnin’ away like a nervous flock o’ chickens. Be ‘a-keepin’ my eyes focused right on heaven and my heart real steady in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now, bless my boots, Buttercup, as you start to headin’ back into this here new day be gittin’ to ‘a- rememberin’ that when some folks git to fussin’ at you for your faith, you’re in real good company. You’re ‘a-walkin’ the very same trail as them there prophets, apostles, and every other brave soul who done refused to be’a-quittin’. That there mean ol’ persecution may start to nippin’ at your heels like an ol’ ornery lil’ goat, but your reward in heaven is gonna be bigger than any trouble on this here earth. So, keep right on a-standin’, keep a-smilin’, and keep a-shinin’ like a real bright lantern on a dark country road in the middle of a moonless night.
With joy,
Gwen
