It is difficult when you are only trying to serve God, if someone comes up and begins to attack your character. But it will happen. Count on it. Jesus did not want his disciples to expect a rose-colored world. Remember this week: When falsely reviled, you become like Jesus in some measure. This is one of the costs of discipleship.

#8 Beatitude. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. Not because of fanaticism, intemperance, idiosyncrasies, zeal or obnoxious personality. To be persecuted for these would be to be persecuted because their own self. Rather persecuted because of righteousness to God’s will. When we live as Jesus lived, we will be rejected because of him. If we are never rejected, we must wonder if we’re living like him.

Happy are you if you are persecuted because of the Christ-likeness of your character. This person is congratulated who is persecuted when others find the righteousness for which we hunger and thirst, distasteful or annoying. Luke 6:26 warns, “Woe to you when all speak well of you.” An Expansion of this then occurs in vs. 11-12. In v. 11, Christ uses you (second person) to stress real applicability to the hearers. He expands v. 10 to include not only persecution, but also insults, and false accusations. Again, the reason for this antagonism is “because of me” or because of righteousness in life that is in imitation of Jesus. If this happens, rejoice and leap for joy.

The REWARD in v. 10 is the same as v. 3: theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. And v. 12 blesses us by associating us with the prophets. This bespeaks a reality to our Christian life, a token of authentic Christian living, a certificate of lived faith.

A lot of times people can be misunderstood in churches. I’ve seen more than one person castigated as ‘narrow-minded’ or stodgy simply because he didn’t go along with every new fad or plan in the church. Judgmental critics, who may be more hip than helpful, often insult or say false things about people who stand up for God’s pure ways. It is difficult when you are only trying to serve God, if someone comes up and begins to attack your character. But it will happen. Count on it. Jesus did not want his disciples to expect a rose-colored world.

Remember this week: When falsely reviled, you become like Jesus in some measure.

This is one of the costs of discipleship.

Some theologians and pastors seem unwilling to suffer for righteousness. As you know there are a number of controversial issues in our day. As I watch ministers, it seems to me—especially when they are willing to change beliefs that have been maintained for years—that one of the factors is that they do not wish to suffer for righteousness sakes. It is one thing to be understanding, charitable in judgment to all, and open-minded; it is another for a Christian leader to sacrifice biblical teachings for little more than an adult version of peer pressure.

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