Episode 270: Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted

blessed are those persecuted Matthew 5 10

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:10-12

As we conclude this series on the Beatitudes, we end with a tough one. If you’re thinking, “How are the persecuted blessed?” Or if you’re thinking this beatitude is an invitation to find a way to be persecuted, listen in to explore the depth and breadth of this scripture.

Trust in Jesus

Christ-centered leaders will walk away with a reminder that their leadership does not depend upon persecution or praise. Your leadership depends upon your trust in Jesus.

As you seek to lead people to follow Jesus, there is a gap between the ways of Jesus and the ways of the world. Explore what this tension between the church and the world might mean. Then, consider whenever tension ceases to exist between the church and the world, one of two things has happened. Either the world has been completely converted to Jesus, or the church has watered down and compromised its purpose. What happens then? In compromising the church loses its influence and is ignored.

At the end of the day, here’s where persecution comes in: we are called to live God’s message, whatever the cost.