Daily Devotions
The Blessedness of Persecution
Reading for October 3rd: Matthew 5-6
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:11-12
It's not easy to be different. We all want to be loved and accepted by our peers. We don't want to stand out or be different. We want to fit in and belong.
When we feel popular opinion is going against us, it is our natural instinct to just roll up in a ball and try to hide. We don't want to be the lone voice speaking up against what everyone is thinking. We don't want to challenge the status quo. In short, we want people to like us. We want others to think highly of us and speak well of us.
Unfortunately, we're not given that luxury in the kingdom. If we are truly following the King's orders and calling others to follow him, people are not going to like us.
It's always been that way. The prophets were never liked or accepted. They were subjected to physical and emotional abuse from their own people. They lived very hard and difficult lives. But in the end they received their reward. And we will receive our reward as well, so long as we are willing to suffer a little persecution in this life.
If you want to be liked by others, then say nothing to offend anyone. Just keep your mouth shut and mind your own business. Most people will leave you alone if you do that.
But if you want to practice radical discipleship, follow Jesus into the synagogues and challenge the powers that be. It will get you in trouble, for sure, but it will also lead to a great reward in heaven.
Father, may we never be ashamed to speak your name before others. Give us the courage to take unpopular stands. Teach us to rejoice when we are persecuted. We pray our trials will only make us focus even more on the reward.
