To paraphrase Matthew 5:11-12, Jesus said we should count ourselves blessed every time people put us down or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens; give a cheer, even – for though they don’t like it, I do!’. If you are thin skinned and not steadfast in the faith, you will have a rough time in life because you will be an easy target for the devil. Paul endured desertion by his friends, discouraging letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in Philippi, mocking in Athens, and finally imprisonment and beheading in Rome.
The Bible gives us these four principles for victorious living: 1. Watch: Other versions of the Bible call this point to be on the alert. You are to be on the alert because you have an adversary who is out to get you. The enemy is after the God-given potential he knows lies within you. You are a seed capable of producing a harvest of blessing. 2. Stand fast in the faith: You are to stand firm in the faith as a believer because you cannot stand on your feelings, your circumstances, or the opinions of others. Those things change constantly, so you must stand firm on the Word of God. 3. Be brave: You are entreated to be brave because being childish or afraid will not help your course when the battle is raging.
It is time to grow up in your faith and become courageous; if you are still making the same mistakes after some years, then you are not learning enough. 4. Be strong. You are to be strong because weakness is an invitation to the Enemy. It always precedes surrender; and giving up is not an option for you. God told His people the Promised Land was theirs but they would have to fight for it. Likewise, you would have to fight the enemy in order to claim your inheritance in Christ Jesus.
