Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
BLESSED ARE THE PERSECUTED
It’s not always easy to stand for what’s right—especially when someone makes fun of you, gossips about you, lies about you, or even abuses you because of your decision.
But when sharing the eighth of the beatitudes—a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom—Jesus offered some hope:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10 NIV
Leading up to this verse, Jesus had spoken unexpected blessings over an unlikely group: the poor in spirit, those who were mourning, the meek, those craving righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peacemakers. Finally, He offered a blessing to the persecuted.
Jesus elaborated:
“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 5:11-12 NIV
Now, we won’t be blessed for facing the consequences of our own terrible decisions. But Jesus is saying that you will be rewarded when you are shamed, canceled, or even physically persecuted because of Him.
Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer for the sake of righteousness.
You will be blessed for standing up for what is right, for trusting in God’s Word, and for defending those who cannot defend themselves. And when it gets hard, remember: you’re not alone.
The prophets before us were mocked, beaten, and even killed. Jesus’ disciples, the ones hearing these words, would also suffer and die because of their beliefs. They were persecuted for doing things differently: for loving their neighbors, fighting for sexual purity, resting on the Sabbath, and most of all, for declaring Jesus as Lord.
So no matter what it costs you, you will be blessed for standing up for what is right. Jesus says that yours is the kingdom of heaven.
SHARE YOUR FAITH
We become more like Jesus when we stand for what's right, no matter the cost. God's people are sometimes mocked or even persecuted for following Him and sharing their faith, But don't let that stop you...A great reward is waiting for you in heaven-in a forever kingdom that will never be destroyed.
God, when I feel weak, remind me that You are strong. And when I feel like giving up, give me the strength to persevere. Show me what it means to pursue righteousness, and then help me to live well. I want every aspect of my life to glorify Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.
DAILY BIBLE READING:
JOB 17-19
ACTS 10:1-23
JOB CONTINUES: WHERE THEN IS MY HOPE?
BILDAD SPEAKS: GOD PUNISHES THE WICKED
JOB REPLIES: MY REDEEMER LIVES
“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
25For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
PETER AND CORNELIUS
a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
“Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
PETER'S VISION
Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
“Rise, Peter; kill and eat. What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times. Peter was inwardly perplexed. while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
PSALM 3
SAVE ME, O MY GOD
you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill.
I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people!
INSIGHT
Psalm 3 is a psalm of lament written by David. The superscription provides us with a reason for his despair: “A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.” The events surrounding this event are found in 2 Samuel 15. Absalom, with the aid of David’s close friend and counselor Ahithophel, tried to unseat his father as king and take the throne for himself, forcing him to flee Jerusalem (vv. 13-37). Psalm 3 captures David’s heartache when he was on the run from his own son. But, like most songs of lament, it ends with a hopeful note: “From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people” (v. 8). In his lament, David trusts in God for his rescue. God gives him rest and helps him “lie down and sleep” (v. 5) even in the midst of his circumstances. He provides rest for us too as we trust in Him.
By: Bill Crowder
SLEEPLESS?
My friend confided that he hadn’t been sleeping well. His sleeplessness was related to a difficult family situation that had kept him up at night. It happened that this was the day I was prepared to discuss Psalm 3 in my adult Sunday school class.
In Psalm 3, King David also had a family problem, one that would lead most of us to sleeplessness. His son Absalom was undermining David’s rule over Israel as part of his plan to overthrow him and snatch the crown for himself.
David was in despair. He fled Jerusalem after a messenger said, “the hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13). In Psalm 3:1, David describes his situation: “Lord, how many are my foes!”
But notice how David found peace. He recalled that God was his shield of protection and that He “lifts [his] head” (v. 3). Then came the help we all need when we fret over our circumstances: David was able to “lie down and sleep.” He observed, “I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (v. 5).
For my friend facing a tough time, this was great news. And for all of us who face hard circumstances and sleepless nights, our God protects us and gives us rest. When we place our total trust in Him, He helps us “lie down and sleep” (v. 5).
By: Dave Branon
REFLECT AND PRAY
What is your “David moment” today? Instead of listening to those who distrust God (Psalm 3:2), how are you trusting His offer to protect you?
Heavenly Father, sometimes like David I exclaim, “How many are my foes!” But You’re there for me. Please shield me, lift my head, and allow me to lie down and sleep. In Jesus' name, Amen.
A STORYBOOK FAITH
A STORY OF FAITH
LIVING OUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE
Hebrews 11 is probably one of the most quoted, most preached, and most known chapters of the entire bible. I believe that this is because in such few words it gives a simple, yet profoundly applicable answer to one of the most fundamental questions which is, “what is faith?” Hebrews 11 gives us this understanding. Chapter 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see." (NIV) In short, faith is being certain of what you believe.
Even when you do not have proof or evidence of what God has promised, faith itself becomes the proof. This kind of belief is counterintuitive to human reasoning. Our nature tells us to rely on what we see or hear before we are sure of something. Faith, however, is being certain of things your senses do not have access to. These things are spoken to us through God’s word and His Spirit.
The basis of faith is this: you can be absolutely certain of anything God says, as long as you believe that God will never lie. And, if you can believe this, your life and all your decisions will be made on that premise. If God is not a liar (and we know that He is not) then I can act on His word in confidence. Hebrews 11 lists over a dozen people and over 28 verbs that demonstrated their faith based on their confidence in God.
As you read, you learn that by faith Abel brought, Noah built, Abraham went. We see that faith is recognized by action. It is not merely knowing God is faithful, it is being so convinced of it that you are willing to do the seemingly impossible because of your certainty that God will come through with his side of the deal. Hebrews highlights the fact that our God is a God of covenant. When He asks something of us, it is because He also has something to bring to the table. What He brings is always more than we could ever do ourselves. So we see that faith is two fold: believing God exists and believing that he is faithful to reward those who believe in him and those who ACT. (Verse 11: 6). We also see this stated plainly in the book of James.
In James 2:17-22 we see the same example of Abraham that we see in this chapter of our text. Abraham completed his faith when he accompanied it with action. As it says in James, even the demons believe that God exists. There is no power in just believing that. Faith is going beyond believing He exists and being capable to take action in our lives based on His word.
In order for God to write our story in the way he did for our protagonists in Hebrews 11—Rahab, Sarah, Gideon, and David among them—we need to be able to DO as they did. We must be able to build, go, live, bear, sacrifice, give, and walk as though we are absolutely certain of what we believe. This is how our ancestors pleased God. God is pleased when His children show their unwavering trust in Him- by more than just words.
Today, as you meditate on these scriptures, ask yourself:
What have I been afraid to DO to show my faith?
What has God promised to uphold if I could step out and hold up my end of the covenant?
