On Persecution and Evangelism | Morning Routine Daily Devotional for March 18

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all…

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. – Matthew 10:23 ESV

In Matthew 10, Jesus speaks on persecution related to the ongoing mission of evangelism. He says that evangelism should not be thwarted but is necessary despite the persecution that certainly follows. He sends His disciples to nearby towns, giving them direction on how to act when they face it, saying, “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” 

To evangelize the whole world is simply a never-ending task. Nevertheless, it’s a task we’re commissioned to pursue. Jesus promises His disciples that they will be met with persecution since “a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” Again, it’s a task we’re commissioned to pursue. So, pursue it—pursue the task of sharing the gospel to all towns, “all nations,” as Jesus says at the end of Matthew’s gospel. Today, I encourage you to consider how you’re pursuing Jesus’ commission to share the gospel with all people. Will you be persecuted for it? According to Jesus, yes. But ultimately, He’s coming back before you finish the job! So, let’s get busy—we’ve been tasked with a mission important to Jesus!