Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
Here, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is reminding those listening about the prophets who suffered in the Old Testament. We should be glad when we are persecuted for our belief in Jesus Christ. When persecuted, we are associated with His meekness, with how He mourns over us when we willfully sin and how He shows mercy. Jesus wants us to walk by faith, not by sight.
Jeremiah is one of these Old Testament prophets. He was selected by God to call His people back to Him. The leaders kept ignoring Jeremiah. They felt all he had to say were negative things about them and about what was going to happen to them if they did not repent and turn back to God. Jeremiah even cried out to God, asking why he was supposed to tell the people about the devastation awaiting them if they did not change their ways.
They said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law
by the priest will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophets.
So come, let’s attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to anything he says.”
Listen to me, Lord;
hear what my accusers are saying!
Should good be repaid with evil?
Yet they have dug a pit for me.
Remember that I stood before You
and spoke in their behalf
to turn Your wrath away from them.
So give their children over to famine;
hand them over to the power of the sword.
Let their wives be made childless and widows;
let their men be put to death,
their young men slain by the sword in battle.
Let a cry be heard from their houses
when You suddenly bring invaders against them,
for they have dug a pit to capture me
and have hidden snares for my feet.
But You, Lord, know
all their plots to kill me.
Do not forgive their crimes
or blot out their sins from Your sight.
Let them be overthrown before You;
deal with them in the time of Your anger.Jeremiah 18:18 – 23
While Jeremiah complains, he still completes the task God has laid before him. Jeremiah felt such an urgency to share God’s words, that he could not contain them. In the New Testament, Paul of Tarsus would be an example of what it means to serve God and be persecuted. Paul endured beatings, imprisonment, hunger, sickness, and lonliness for Jesus. He was always willing to share the Gospel with those who wanted to hear and just as willing when the ears of unbelievers didn’t want to hear. We are to plant the seeds of faith, the seeds of wonder, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.
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Father, thank You for those that have followed the examples of Your prophets. Thank You for the missionaries of today, who are persecuted for sharing Your love, grace, and mercy with those who do not know You. Surround them, Father, with Your protection as they persevere through their hardships and let the Holy Spirit bring peace in their distress, comfort when there are tears, and bring words of inspiration when they feel loss. Let us learn more about these individuals so we may lift them up to You every day. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
