William Lane Craig is a well-known defender of the faith. He writes books, speaks at conferences, and debates atheists in front of thousands upon thousands of people.

This makes him a frequent target. He is yelled at, ridiculed, and criticized—over and over and over.

Someone asked him how he responded to all of this. He replied, “I rejoice!” Um, pardon? That’s not really what you’d expect to hear. He went on to explain that Jesus tells him to do so in the Sermon on the Mount:

“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” (Matthew 5:11-12).*

I’ve read some of Craig’s books and have seen several of his videos. He is thoughtful, humble and articulate. He is also keenly aware of who he serves and why he lives. When you get those details right, you can feel the joy of a job well done, even when others pick up the proverbial sticks and stones.

It was true for Jesus, for those first disciples, for William Lane Craig, and for you.

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…”

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Notes:

—Notice: The Up Devotional will be going on break after Easter for two weeks, returning on May 2, 2022.

—Click here for a short video about what to expect during Holy Week at Westminster in 2022.

–*I was told this story by Greg Koukl on ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan,’ published on April 7, 2022.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.