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Verse:“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”—Matthew 5:10, NKJV
Recently, I was surprised while standing in an airport security line when an old friend and coworker spoke to me. It took me only a few seconds to recognize him. We were both older now with some graying hair; he looked great.
He was traveling to visit one of his children in Texas.
I was on my way to a women’s ministries convention in Florida. He was still working for a local fire department but retiring in a few years.
TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agents sent my friend and me to different lines. I was told the TSA computer had randomly picked me for patting down. I finally got through the security check and sat down on a bench to put my shoes back on. Looking up, I saw my friend being put through the wringer of a close security check, delaying him as well. I was saddened by all that he went through.
This man had spent his life serving the community as a firefighter-paramedic. Why are they picking on him? I wondered. Because he is black? I noticed how he took this treatment of suspicion with grace and patience.
“Does this happen to you often?” I asked when he finally approached the exit point. He simply smiled with no word of complaint.
My friend’s experience and response made me think of Paul and Silas in Philippi. (You can read the story in Acts 16:16–40.)
After setting a girl free from demonic possession, they were falsely accused of breaking the law, severely beaten, thrown into prison, and immobilized with their feet in stocks. And their response to mistreatment? They sang songs of praise to God! Wow! No words of complaint. No resisting. No self-pity! Then, when an earthquake opened a way of escape for them, they didn’t take it. Because of their actions, the jailer and his entire family came to know and accept Christ. Again, wow! How many times have I complained about some minor mistreatment or slight I felt was unjustified? Oh, how I want to get closer to Jesus so that complaining can be eradicated from my character! I want to be like my friend, smiling with no words of complaint. I want to be like Paul and Silas, singing praises to God no matter how harshly I’m treated. I want to be an example for Jesus: “Kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV).
Mona Fellers