Jesus said, ”I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves” (Luke 10:3 NASB). Those who are one with the Lamb live out their lamb-ness in a world roaming with wolves and lions. Sometimes lambs are persecuted. Sometimes they are mauled by lions and die in the mouth of wolves. Jesus predicted it. It is not pleasant; it is not easy. Jesus even said we were to rejoice when it happens (Matthew 5:11-12). Someone disagreeing with your opinion is not persecution, neither are those who reject your religiosity. We must get over ourselves; most of us know very little about persecution. Pray for people who are truly persecuted. Pray that if you are you will in your lamb-ness reflect your Lamb.
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.” (John 15:18-20 NLT)
