Blessed Are The Persecuted

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.

The promise of persecution comes for those who take a stand for God.

Persecution is the result of righteous living.

The early church went through much persecution for their faith in Christ.

• To suffer persecution is to walk along the same road as the prophets, the saints, and the martyrs.
• To suffer persecution is to make things easier for those who are to follow.
• To suffer persecution is to experience the fellowship of Christ.

Most of us enjoy the blessing of liberty today because men and women in the past were willing to buy it for us at the cost of their own blood, sweat and tears.

Let us accept persecution,
whether mild or hot,
which comes as a result of righteous living.

Oh Lord,
encourage those who are now
experiencing severe persecution
for Your name.

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

The word “peace” describes a condition of perfect and complete positive well-being.

It describes the right relationships — intimate fellowship and goodwill between human beings.

Peace comes not from avoiding issues but from facing them.

We make peace even through troubles.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are doing a God-like work.

Waging peace may involve laying down one’s life, like Jesus did, in order to reconcile men with God and break down barriers among men (Galatians 3:26-29).

Jesus’ teaching is that we should not resist evil with evil (Matthew 5:39). We are not to respond in kind to the acts of injustice and dehumanization directed against us, but rather to respond with transforming initiatives.

We are to wage peace.
This involves promoting love,
fostering unity among brethren,
being a witness of a higher kingdom,
and following the non-violence example of Jesus.

Let us be proactive and wage peace in our sphere of influence.

Oh Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
May I counter hatred with love and injury with forgiveness.