Good morning people of God’s eternal kingdom

Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is one of the passages that you may have crossed out of your Bible but this is truth that we must accept and understand.

Persecution will come to every Believer who is walking in righteousness. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear but it is the truth. This raises a few things that are worth considering. Let me list them in point form.

1. If we never face persecution (opposition because of our faith in Christ), then we should be examining the depth of our commitment to Christ.

2. If we are being persecuted, we must ensure it’s for righteousness sake and not as a result of some wrong action. This is important because ‘religious zealots’ get themselves into trouble by being unwise and then consider themselves a martyr. Listen to wise counsel from others to ensure you don’t get into a martyr complex.

3. Respond well when persecuted. Persecution is simply an opportunity to shine brighter. The world’s system is ‘pay back’ but God’s kingdom way is to ‘love our enemies and bless them’. How we respond in times of persecution will define us.

4. Don’t fear it but be thankful for the privilege of identifying with Christ. We are told to follow His example when He suffered. We too can point people to the Father through our suffering, just like Jesus did.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness…think about it.