We have arrived at our last beatitude and this may just be the hardest one to understand. The truth of it is so foreign in our world today, because in the NIV version it says, “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.
In the version The Message, it is worded: “You’re blessed when your 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.”
Wow. I have to admit that when I first read this I thought, You have to be kidding! I’m to be glad, even happy, when I’m treated badly? That’s insane!
So, I began searching the Bible to see if there were other verses that would backup what it says in this last beatitude. I figured if there weren’t any others, maybe this particular one was a misprint
This is what I found: Luke 6:22-23 – “What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”
James 1:2 – “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
I Peter 4:12-16 – “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!”
If you want to read any more verses on this uplifting subject…check out James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, 2 Cor 4:8-12, 17, Acts 5:41 and Romans 5:3. Believe it or not…there are even more. It didn’t take long to realize that this last beatitude wasn’t a misprint; it was the truth, and we are supposed to live it out on a daily basis.
Christians who experienced the persecution that came upon the first-century church thought it anything but a blessing. Yet Jesus did not lie when He called the persecuted a blessed people.
He wasn’t speaking about someone who is looked down on because he or she wears a cross necklace around his or her neck. Nor was He speaking of someone who is picked on because they happen to listen to Christian music. Jesus was hitting on the core of what it means to be a devoted, follower of Christ; those who are sold out completely to living a life for Him no matter the cost.
Unfortunately, believers who allow the filth of the world to filter into their lives eventually become a weak testimony of Jesus Christ. If our values and behavior run too closely alongside those who are selfish and immoral, we probably won’t be persecuted because there won’t be a reason to be. We aren’t making a strong enough stand against the values, or lack of values of the world to merit being silenced. Satan has no need to harass those who have strayed from the Word of God; they have already been considered by him to be ineffective followers of Christ and so they aren’t a spiritual threat.
Those who choose to take a stand against the world and its evils are guaranteed to experience opposition, hatred, abandonment and rejection. But Jesus promised that while His followers may appear to lose everything in this life, they gain an incredible reward in the next one.
Devoted followers of Christ today, who are not afraid to speak the truth of God’s Word, may not be martyred for their faith, but they certainly will not be considered a guest of honor at a secular social gathering either. To be rejected by the world means to be accepted by Christ and honored by the Father just as Christ was honored for His obedience.
Before we continue looking at this last beatitude, I think it would be a good idea if we spent some time evaluating what our personal walk with Christ looks like. Do we look any different than the world? Do we experience any of Satan’s attacks because he fears our testimony will make a positive influence on eternity? Or do we resemble the world so much with our choices and values that he knows he doesn’t have to worry about our effectiveness? The bottom line is…if Satan never harasses us…maybe we need to figure out why he doesn’t see the need.
I often think about the saying, “Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, ‘OH NO, SHE’S UP’”. I have a long way to go to be this kind of woman, but I think all of us, men and women, need to have this as our goal and make it our prayer in the coming days.
Until next week…
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