Matthew 5:11-16 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
(vv.11-12)

One of my teachers made this comment in class: “Talking to God is prayer; when God talks to you, you are schizophrenic.”

I e-mailed my teacher and stated that her comment had offended me as a Christian who believes that God talks to me on a regular basis. I explained that the students and teachers in the department had grown increasingly vocal, in an antagonistic way, about Christians. This e-mail landed me in the Director of Social Work’s office.

In the Director’s office, the teacher called people who believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God “fanatics.” I replied that I was one of those fanatics. I was shocked to be labeled a “schizophrenic fanatic” because I was Christian. I felt hated for my faith. I was experiencing a small taste of what Jesus meant when He said, “All men will hate you because of me…” (Mark 13:13).

Lord, help me to love people who hate me because I’m a Christian. Let me see them through Your eyes of love, and I pray that they see Your love in me.

2 Kings 1:2-17; Psalm 69; 1Corinthians 3:16-23

Until next time blessings and healing