Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake — Matthew 5:11
When you were born again, Jesus Christ, the righteous One, who is full of grace and truth, entered your heart and lives in you. Now the devil hates you because he hates the One who lives in you. He will use people who are under the Law to persecute you. They will revile you — subject you to verbal abuse or abusive language. They will persecute you — harass or punish you in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict. They will say all kinds of evil against you falsely and cause you to suffer for your belief in Jesus.
Now, you are not persecuted because of how good you are. You are persecuted because of how good Jesus is. Jesus said, you are blessed when you are persecuted for righteousness sake. You are blessed because the righteous One lives in you and you are under Grace! Praise the Lord!
So, how do we handle persecution? Jesus said in Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Rejoice and be glad because you are blessed forever. The kingdom of heaven is yours! Now, when people persecute you, don’t hate them. Instead, pray for them. Pray that they will come to know the truth and be saved. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
God loves people who are under Grace. He also loves people who are under the Law. He desires that all people will come to know the truth and be saved.
Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you!
Meditate on…
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake — Matthew 5:11
