Persecuted

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

PERSECUTED

Matt 5:10-12

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

NIV

There are several reasons we might expect some form of persecution because we are Christians. It also should be apparent we should not provoke being persecuted because of our use of inflammatory language or behavior. We should not seek persecution by violating the laws of a civil society either. The point here is that if in the course of living out our Christian walk, making an honest effort to live a peaceful life, as we are admonished to make every effort to live in peace with all men, and because of our walk, others either persecute or revile us, we are to consider it a blessing.

Heb 12:14

14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

NIV

Although throughout the world some believers are persecuted, even onto death, we here in America do not experience that type of persecution. True, it would seem the government, at least those on the far left or who call themselves progressive, is setting upon a course to render Christianity null and void. But this is not a personal persecution, per say, on our being or because we hold true to our faith in the face of adversity.  It is when we as believers, making every effort to live in peace with all men, are singled out just because they know we believe in God and are either passed over for a promotion, or even fired, then we could say we have been persecuted because of righteousness. When we do everything right, making every effort to live in peace with all people, which means no judgment upon those who do not believe as we do, and they feel threatened because of who we are and exclude us from gatherings or discussion, then we might say we have been persecuted because of righteousness. The point is we are obligated by the gospel to love everyone, even those who would be considered our enemy. This law of love along with all the other admonishments to live in peace would prohibit us from any attitude, language or conduct that would cause anyone to hate us enough to persecute us. We also know that some will respect our faith, even revere it, looking upon us with favor, seeking our prayers, even though they themselves do not believe as we do. But we also know there are those who simply cannot tolerate our faith because it stands in opposition to their attitudes and conduct. They would rather live in the darkness because the light reveals their sin. This is why they do not want to have anything to do with us. Yet even in that situation, we must continue to love them, making every effort to live in peace with them for the sake of the gospel. Then we can truly know we are living in a manner that we are living in the kingdom of God. It is when we live as though we are better than others, isolating ourselves from them, excluding them from our lives, condemning their conduct, their lack of faith, their way of life, and they hate us because of it, we have failed and any persecution is not because of righteousness, but because of our self-righteousness. It is not that we should hide our faith, or tolerate wrong behavior, but again, if we love them anyway, as Jesus loved the sinner, we are doing the work of God. Then if we are scorned, hated, reviled, it is because of the righteousness of Christ.