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.”
REFLECTION
Are we seeking Christ or are we looking for ways to fit the Son of God into our lives? Authentic discipleship is based on service: serving God through worship, praise, love, and covenant faithfulness. Religious belief that asks, “what is in it for me?” is diametrically opposed to the saving work of Jesus Christ. This shallow faith is often exposed when there is cost to our profession.
We should not be surprised when the world opposes, rejects, and even persecutes us for living according to the values of God’s kingdom rather than those of the world. If we never feel even a slight bit of friction with the non-believers that oppose God…we should wonder why! Jesus teaches that we must die to self and take up our own cross. Will we join the crowd that fell away from the Lord when his call became too hard to bear? Or will we join the long line of saints for whom there was no cost too high for the gift of salvation?
PRAYER: Lord, give us grace and vision to not only admire Your kingdom, but to live as citizens of it…whatever the cost. Examine our hearts and show us where we compromise our faith, quietly or openly. If we are persecuted for following Jesus let us rejoice – not in the suffering itself, but because we belong to Christ. AMEN
Leave a Reply