The first time I saw cows dance, I was about 10 years old. My brother Dave and I had gone down to the southern most edge of the farm, right up to the watering pond that Mr. Edwards had made with one very large backhoe. I remember it as being fall (probably sometime in late September) as the apples from the nearby trees had already fallen. Well, some of those apples went into the pond, fermented, and became the stuff of one very drunken afternoon for a small herd of cows. What a sight!!! So, this picture reminded me of that amazing day and how happy those cows were as they leaped and frolicked in the late afternoon heat!!! So, with that in mind please read verse 22 below and then the seemingly incongruous verse that follows; Jesus said...
Luke, Chapter 6 (WEB)
22 Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.
Imagine, being equated with the prophets of old. This conjures up visions of Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah and a host of other famous heralds of God!!! Or, perhaps someone from the New Testament era might be more appropriate- say, Zacharias, Anna or perhaps John the baptist, for example. The point here is not about being famous, but rather the reward that those who love God and are willing to suffer for Jesus' name will receive. The things mentioned in verse 22 will be unpleasant, but they pale in comparison to the reward in heaven. And, of course- you will be in great company; so rejoice and leap for joy at the prospect of such things. Only one more thing- stay away from watering holes, no matter how enticing the apples may look!!!