Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12
How are the persecuted blessed? Shouldn’t this be considered something undesirable, not something that a Christian should experience?
For the believer living the life of brokenness and dependence upon the Lord, demonstrating the fruit of mercy, meekness, and peacemaking, the ultimate goal is not pleasure and ease. We know that this life is tainted with sin, the Fall has affected every part of creation with suffering, pain, separation, and death.
The believer has but one hope – the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. The temporary conditions of this life must be held in relation to eternal conditions. One day, this life will end and we will all stand before the Lord to receive the rewards of those things done in this body – either rewards of everlasting joy, or everlasting separation.
We are part of a great company of people who have chosen the eternal blessings over the temporary comforts. The value of the temporal rewards pale in comparison to the eternal life offered. No persecution, false accusations, or other attempt to steal, kill, or destroy the person can overcome the love, joy, and peace offered by God.
When you are maligned, accused, or persecuted for the sake of Christ, consider it an honor to be associated with the God the universe in such a way that those around you cannot deny it.
