Tag: devotional

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Kingdom Living Devotional — Day 11

Rooted & Raised

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

— Matthew 5:12 NASB1995

💎 Joy in the Fire

Persecution isn’t the end of the story—it’s part of the blessing. Jesus doesn’t just tell us to endure it; He tells us to rejoice. Why? Because it means we’re walking the same road as the prophets—and because our reward isn’t here. It’s in heaven. And it’s great.

This joy isn’t fake or forced. It’s rooted in hope. The world may reject you, but heaven celebrates you.

🕯 Ante-Nicene Reflection

The early church faced suffering with joy. Many sang on the way to martyrdom. Their joy wasn’t in their pain—it was in the presence of Christ, the glory to come, and the honor of being counted worthy to suffer for His name.

💭 Reflect

  • Do I rejoice in hard moments, or do I complain or fear?
  • How can I anchor my joy in what’s eternal, not temporary?

🙏 Prayer

Father, help me rejoice when I’m rejected for following You. Let my eyes be on eternity and my heart anchored in the joy of knowing You. May my life echo the faith of those who came before me. Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

🧒 Kingdom Kids Devotional — Day 11

Rooted & Raised

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

— Matthew 5:12 NASB1995

🎉 When It’s Hard, Smile Anyway

Jesus says that when people are mean to us because we love Him, we can still be happy! Why? Because our reward is coming—and it’s way better than anything this world can give.

You are not the first person to be hurt for doing what’s right. God’s people have always faced hard things. But He never leaves them—and He promises a BIG reward in heaven!

🏛 Long Ago…

Children in the early church were taught to rejoice when others were unkind because they followed Jesus. They knew this life was short and heaven was forever.

💡 Think About It:

  • What helps you stay joyful when someone is unkind?
  • Can you thank God even when it’s hard?

🙏 Let’s Pray:

Jesus, help me to rejoice when things are hard. Remind me that You are with me and that my reward is in heaven. Thank You for loving me. Amen.

Devotions, Family Devotionals

🏡 Kingdom Family Devotional — Day 11

Rooted & Raised

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

— Matthew 5:12 NASB1995

🎈 A Family That Rejoices in Trials

Jesus ends this section with a powerful call: Rejoice and be glad. Not because pain feels good, but because we are sharing in something eternal. The world’s rejection is heaven’s affirmation.

When your family faces hardship for your faith—at school, online, in conversations—remind your children: we’re not alone. The prophets were here before us. The early church endured this. And Jesus promises: your reward is great.

🕯 A Mother’s Role

Lead in joy. Even in hardship. Let your words, songs, and prayers point to the eternal. Your joy in trials will teach your children that Kingdom citizenship is worth every cost.

📖 Talk About It:

  • What’s one hard thing we’ve faced because we follow Jesus?
  • How can we turn hardship into worship?

🧰 Kingdom Practice

Write down a list of “joy anchors”—truths that help your family rejoice during difficult times. Post it somewhere visible as a reminder.

✍️ Prayer

Lord, teach our home to rejoice even when it’s hard. May we never forget that our reward is in heaven. Let joy rise in our hearts because we belong to You. Amen.

Devotions, Teen Devotions

😎 Kingdom Teen Devotional — Day 11

Rooted & Raised

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

— Matthew 5:12 NASB1995

😄 Celebrate What the World Doesn’t Understand

Getting mocked for your faith? Jesus says—don’t just survive it. Rejoice.

That might sound backwards, but here’s the truth: when people push back because you’re living for Christ, you’re in good company. The prophets. The apostles. Jesus Himself. And your reward? It’s not a few likes. It’s eternal.

🔊 Real Talk:

  • What would it look like to rejoice when others insult you for your faith?
  • How can you remind yourself of your real reward?

✨ Try This:

Create a “joy list”—five things that remind you why Jesus is worth it. Read it when you’re tempted to give up or fit in.

✍️ Prayer:

Jesus, give me joy that doesn’t depend on people’s approval. Help me celebrate even when I’m misunderstood. Remind me that I’m never alone. Amen.

Children's Devotionals, Devotions

🧒 Kingdom Kids Devotional — Day 10

Rooted & Raised

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

— Matthew 5:11 NASB1995

🗯 When People Say Mean Things

Sometimes people say things that aren’t true or try to make fun of you because you love Jesus. That can hurt—but Jesus says you are blessed when that happens!

He knows what it’s like to be picked on and lied about. He promises to be close to you when you stand up for what’s right.

🏛 Long Ago…

In the early church, even children were teased or accused of things that weren’t true just because they believed in Jesus. But they kept loving God—and He gave them strength and joy!

💡 Think About It:

  • Has anyone said something untrue about you before?
  • How can you keep doing what’s right even when it’s hard?

🙏 Let’s Pray:

Jesus, help me be strong when others say mean or false things. Help me remember that You love me and are always with me. Amen.

Devotions, Family Devotionals

🏡 Kingdom Family Devotional — Day 10

Rooted & Raised

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

— Matthew 5:11 NASB1995

🧱 Helping Our Children Endure Slander

As your children grow, they’ll face moments when their faith makes them a target—not just for disagreement, but for slander. Friends might mock them, teachers might challenge them, and false assumptions will come. This is not failure. It’s part of the narrow road.

Jesus doesn’t say “if”—He says when. But He also says blessed.

Your role as a mother is to equip their hearts to endure this—not by making them defensive, but by helping them see that Jesus already told us to expect it, and that He is faithful through it.

🕯 A Mother’s Role

Model quiet strength when falsely accused. Let your children see you respond in grace, not retaliation. Teach them to let truth and love be their defense, and to entrust their reputation to God.

📖 Talk About It:

  • What does it feel like to be wrongly accused?
  • How can we respond like Jesus instead of reacting like the world?

🧰 Kingdom Practice

Write or speak encouraging affirmations over your children this week—especially if they’ve been misunderstood or hurt. Remind them of who they are in Christ.

✍️ Prayer

Lord, help me lead my children in truth and love. When we face insults or lies because of our faith, help us to stand strong and speak with grace. Thank You that we are blessed, even in rejection. Amen.

Kingdom Discipleship, Kingdom Living

Kingdom Values vs. Worldly Values

Rooted & Raised

Jesus said:

“My Kingdom is not of this world…”
— John 18:36

This wasn’t just a theological statement—it was a value distinction. The Kingdom of God is governed by radically different principles than those of the world. While the world praises power, influence, and self-preservation, Jesus elevates humility, mercy, sacrifice, and righteousness.

The early Church knew this well. Living under Roman rule, surrounded by wealth, status, and violence, they consciously chose to embody the values of heaven over the systems of earth. Their lives were a public declaration that the Kingdom of God had already come—and that it looked nothing like Caesar’s.

Two Kingdoms. Two Moral Systems.

The world says:

  • Exalt yourself.
  • Get even.
  • Win at all costs.
  • Gather wealth.
  • Preserve your rights.

The Kingdom of God says:

  • Humble yourself (Matthew 23:12).
  • Forgive seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22).
  • Lose your life to find it (Luke 9:24).
  • Give to the poor (Luke 12:33).
  • Turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39).

The clash isn’t subtle—it’s complete. And the early Christians refused to blend the two.

They Chose the Cross Over the Crown

While Roman citizens glorified the sword and adored military strength, Christians gloried in Christ crucified. They didn’t try to conquer culture—they bore witness to a greater one. They were mocked for weakness, yet their love shook empires.

“They love all men and are persecuted by all… they are poor, yet make many rich… dishonored, yet glorified.”
— Epistle to Diognetus

Their values showed that Christ—not comfort—was Lord.

Worldly Values Crept in Over Time

By the mid-4th century, the line between Kingdom and empire blurred. Titles appeared. Wealth increased. The Church sought influence over integrity, status over sacrifice. But the first three centuries stand as a testimony to what the Church looks like when it values the teachings of Jesus more than the applause of men.

We must return to that distinction.

What About Today?

Too often, believers are indistinguishable from the world around them. We chase careers, praise politicians, hoard resources, and defend our reputations—all while professing the name of Christ. But Kingdom values demand a different way—a better way.

To be citizens of the Kingdom, we must renounce the world’s values, even when they come dressed in religious language.

What We Can Learn

  1. Kingdom values are not compatible with worldly systems.
  2. Discipleship means embracing the cross—not comfort or popularity.
  3. We must test every cultural value against the teachings of Christ.
  4. Living by Kingdom values makes us light in the darkness.

2–3 minutes
Previous
next

Leave a comment

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Kingdom Living Devotional — Day 10

Rooted & Raised

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

— Matthew 5:11 NASB1995

💢 When It Gets Personal

Persecution is one thing—but personal attacks? False accusations? That’s where it cuts deep. Jesus prepares us for this reality: if we follow Him faithfully, we will be misunderstood—even slandered.

But notice—He calls us blessed. Not forgotten. Not defeated. Blessed.

This verse isn’t a warning—it’s a promise. If people falsely accuse you because of your devotion to Christ, He sees it all. And He calls you His. That’s the kind of comfort the world can’t give—and can never take away.

🕯 Ante-Nicene Reflection

Early Christian women were slandered as unpatriotic, rebellious, and even immoral—simply because they would not bow to Caesar or compromise the faith. Their quiet endurance in the face of false accusations gave witness to the power of Christ within them.

💭 Reflect

  • Have I been misjudged or misunderstood because of my faith?
  • Do I seek to defend myself—or trust God to vindicate me?

🙏 Prayer

Lord, help me endure insult and misunderstanding without bitterness. When people speak falsely against me because of You, help me remember that I am blessed. May I reflect Your gentleness and truth no matter the cost. Amen.

Kingdom Discipleship, Kingdom Living

Civil Disobedience and the Cost of Allegiance

Rooted & Raised

To the early Christians, allegiance to Jesus wasn’t just verbal—it was visible. It shaped every action, every relationship, and every response to authority. While they obeyed laws, paid taxes, and prayed for leaders, they also understood there were limits to civil obedience. When human commands contradicted divine truth, they chose Christ over Caesar—no matter the cost.

“We must obey God rather than men.”
— Acts 5:29

This wasn’t rebellion for the sake of rebellion. It was faithful resistance, grounded in humility, guided by Scripture, and empowered by the Spirit.

Civil Obedience with Heavenly Boundaries

The early Christians were not revolutionaries in the worldly sense. They sought peace, respected government, and lived quiet lives (1 Thessalonians 4:11–12). But they drew a line where obedience to earthly rulers would require disobedience to God.

When commanded to worship the emperor, offer incense to idols, or renounce Christ, they refused—even if it meant death.

“We are ready to serve you, but we cannot worship your gods or call the emperor ‘Lord.’ Christ is our only King.”
— Apology of Athenagoras, c. AD 177

They Were Arrested for Faithfulness, Not Lawlessness

These believers weren’t jailed for rioting or plotting rebellion—they were arrested for refusing to bow to anything or anyone but Jesus. Their defiance came in the form of silence before magistrates, refusal to sacrifice, hymns sung in prison, and joyful submission to execution.

They didn’t curse the state. They didn’t demand their rights. They simply stood firm in holy allegiance—and accepted the consequences.

Civil Disobedience Was Normalized in Their Discipleship

Early church leaders didn’t encourage blind compliance. They taught believers that following Christ might lead to breaking laws that broke God’s law, and that suffering was not failure—but faithfulness.

“We who fear God do not suppose that the empire is to be hated; we pray for it… but we refuse to call Caesar ‘God.’”
— Tertullian, To Scapula 2

Obeying God over men wasn’t an act of civil unrest—it was a mark of spiritual integrity.

Faithfulness Was Costly

Choosing Christ over culture meant:

  • Loss of business and income
  • Disqualification from public office
  • Social exclusion
  • Arrest, torture, and martyrdom

But they counted it a privilege to suffer for the Name.

“They left the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.”
— Acts 5:41

They did not seek suffering, but they did not fear it. Their eyes were on a better Kingdom, a righteous Judge, and an eternal reward.

What We Can Learn Today

  1. Civil disobedience is a biblical, necessary practice when human authority contradicts God’s Word.
  2. Faithfulness to Christ will cost us something—it always has.
  3. Our stand must be marked by humility, courage, and peace.
  4. We are not rebels—we are citizens of a higher Kingdom.

Sources:

  • The Holy Bible — Acts 5:29, 41; 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12
  • Tertullian, To Scapula
  • Athenagoras, Apology
  • Martyrdom of Polycarp, c. AD 155
  • Eusebius, Church History
2–3 minutes
Previous
Next

Leave a comment

Devotions, Women's Devotionals

🌿 Kingdom Living Devotional — Day 9

Rooted & Raised

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

— Matthew 5:10 NASB1995

🔥 Standing Firm When It Costs

Righteousness is beautiful, but it isn’t always popular. When you live by God’s truth, it may bring conflict, rejection, or even mistreatment. Jesus doesn’t say “if”—He says “when”. Persecution for righteousness isn’t a possibility; it’s a mark of Kingdom living.

But take heart: the persecuted are not forgotten. They are blessed. Theirs is the Kingdom—not just someday, but now. Their endurance is seen. Their reward is sure.

🕯 Ante-Nicene Reflection

The early church knew persecution intimately. Women were imprisoned, mocked, and martyred not for breaking laws but for living holy lives. Their faith didn’t shrink in suffering—it shone. Their joy in Christ made the world take notice.

💭 Reflect

  • Am I afraid to stand for righteousness because of what it may cost?
  • Where do I need boldness to live openly for Christ?

🙏 Prayer

Lord, give me courage to stand for what is right, even when it’s hard. Strengthen my heart when I feel alone or misunderstood. Let me rejoice, knowing I belong to Your Kingdom. Amen.