Title
True Persecution
Scripture
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:10)
Devotional
The key phrase of our text is "For righteousness' sake." The apostle Peter clarifies the suffering of persecution when he instructs, "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."[4] Suffering due to laziness or slothfulness does not equate to being persecuted. When one is treated unjustly for doing right and suffers, maybe just maybe it could be deemed as persecution. The diabolical purpose of persecution is to thwart the spreading of the Gospel. When believers are harassed, it is because their mere presence convicts the ungodly of their ways. Remember believers are blessed when persecuted for righteousness' sake not ignorance or rudeness. My desire is "to find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man."[5] If I suffer persecution for it, then I can know that I am blessed.