What Jesus Did! 'Persecuted!' — Matthew 5:10-12

Sunday, February 14, 2021

A Year with Jesus - Holy Week

Spend some time with Jesus this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday.

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[Jesus continued:]
"God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

"God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way."

— Matthew 5:10-12 NLT

Key Thought

You mean we are really blessed by being persecuted for doing what is good and by being insulted for being righteous? Now that's hard to take! Seeing ourselves blessed by God in such times is very tough. How can we be glad when we are persecuted, spoken about badly, and have evil lies told about us when we are trying to do good? But that is exactly what we see in the book of Acts. The early disciples considered it a privilege to suffer for the name of Jesus. In his first letter, Peter constantly reminded believers to make sure that if they were going to suffer, they would suffer because they had done what was right, not what was wrong. You see, the journey of discipleship is about developing the character of Christ and carrying on the great tradition of faithfulness demonstrated by the prophets. If they faced persecution for doing right, shouldn't we think we will? Even more, history has repeatedly reminded us that those who suffer to bring a blessing to others have a witness that cannot be silenced. That's why God is not ashamed to be called their God and why the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them. More than just being happy, Jesus said these people will have a great reward!

Today's Prayer

Holy God and Righteous Father, thank you for reminding me that the first goal in my life is not to be protected, but to be used to share your grace. Help me to know that being persecuted for doing what is right is following in the steps of Jesus. Give me the courage and the passion to help lead others to the wonderful discovery of you, your grace, and your great reward. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 5:41
  • 2 Timothy 3:12-13
  • 1 Peter 2:12

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 5:10-12 NLT — "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.