Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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 5:10-12 You’re blessed when you’re commitment to God provokes persecution. The
persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. Not only that – count
yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak
lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close
for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens-give
a cheer even!-for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And
know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten
into this kind of trouble. - The Message
Luke 6:22-23
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject
your name as evil because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in
heaven.
Rejoice in
persecution? Jump for joy? These scriptures don’t sound like a promise, nor do
they sound “blissful” (blessed means blissful) – but they are. The truth is we
can’t “enjoy” persecution unless we know Christ, are filled with his Spirit and
committed to him. When we’re persecuted for righteousness sake we have joined
Christ in the battle against Satan. He is with us giving us strength,
perseverance and joy!
Persecution and
martyrdom is happening to Christians around the world. Barclay writing about
the early Christians says that the persecution of Christians occurred because
“the difference in their lives was a daily rebuke to many pagans.” He also
says, “Persecution only comes to the man whose life is so positive and real in
its effectiveness that society regards him as a danger.” A Christian who is
willing to compromise, or who is uncommitted, whose faith is shallow won’t be
persecuted.
Father,
This passage of
scripture is difficult. The thought of being persecuted is upsetting. We must
lean on You. Help our lives be so true to you that we rejoice in times of
trouble. Help us commit our lives totally to you. It would be an honor to be
persecuted because of Your righteousness in us, because Christ lives in you and
me. Help us depend on You and your Holy Spirit in the midst of trials of any
kind. Your joy is our strength!
In Christ, Dottie
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