Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:12)

The Christian’s response to persecution and affliction should not be to retreat and hide, Jesus told us we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:13-14).

For our salt to flavor the earth and our light to lighten the world, we must be active in the world. The gospel is not given to be hidden but to enlighten.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (v. 16).

When we become Christ’s salt and light, our salt will sting the world’s open wounds of sin, and our light will irritate its eyes that are accustomed to darkness.

But even when our salt and light are resented, rejected, and thrown back into our face, we should “rejoice and be glad.”

The meaning of “be glad” is to exult, to rejoice greatly to be overjoyed. Jesus used the imperative mood, thus commanding us to be glad.

Not to be glad when we suffer for Christ’s sake is to be be untrusting and disobedient. The world can take away a great deal from God’s people, but it cannot take away their joy and their happiness.

When people attack us for Christ’s sake, they are really attacking Him (cf. Gal. 6:17; Col. 1:24). And their attacks can do us more permanent damage than they can do to Him.

So rejoice in the privilege we have been given to be salt and light, no matter what the reaction.

John MacArthur

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End notes:

[1] John MacArthur, Daily Readings From the Life of Christ [Chicago: Moody, 2008], March 22.

See also:

BEWARE OF THOSE WHO ONLY SAY THEY LOVE SCRIPTURE

SAY NO TO WOMEN PASTORS

RICK WARREN SAYS NO KING’S WAY DOCUMENT AND NO SADDLEBACK “STAFF” INVOLVED