Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

                                                                                                     Matthew 5:11-12 

It is interesting that this is the only of the eight “Blessed” declarations in which Jesus elaborates. “Blessed are those who are persecuted” is the beginning, but there is more. We are blessed when people insult us and persecute us and falsely say all kinds of things about us because we are followers of Jesus. If someone actually thinks that Christians are ignorant, stupid, or delusional, then the proper response to them should be pity and sympathy. If I observed someone running around declaring, “The pink unicorns are coming, the pink unicorns are coming!” I wouldn’t be angry with them. If this person is under some sort of delusion, anger would not be the proper response. The same is true for believers in Jesus. If someone is truly convinced that Christians are delusional, anger would not be the appropriate response. But this is not the reality of what actually happens. In many cases, unbelievers can get quite angry and sometimes even hostile at the mention of the name of Jesus. If they are secure in their rejection of Christ, anger is an illogical response.

The truth is that believers are living in a manner that distinguishes them from the rest of the world. This does not mean that Christians do not get tempted or even fall at times. The flesh is still present in every person. But for the saved, there should be a desire for Jesus to be at the center of everything in life. Nothing should take the place of unbroken fellowship with God. I was reminded today of yet another example of how we can compromise ourselves. When failure occurs, we can either correct it, moving forward in the victory that is in Jesus or we can continue down a road of constant and progressive disobedience. One mark of Christian authenticity is the response one makes to sin and its effect on our lives. The bottom line is this: believers will live lives that distinguish them from the rest of the world. If we look, speak, and act like the world then we are probably of the world. Peter spoke of the persecution that comes from outwardly living a changed life: 

For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you…

                                                                                                       1 Peter 4:3-4 

First is the acknowledgement that all of us have once lived in a way that is not in accordance with the gospel or the Christian life. In other words, everyone is equally in need of salvation. But secondly, Peter points out that those who are not regenerated will immediately turn on those who have found eternal life. Sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and idolatries are among the things that Peter lists as indicators of an unsaved life. He brings us to the reality that those who prefer this lifestyle will be surprised that we do not run along side with them and partake in those same activities. The truth is that for believers, temptation still exists but as we grow and mature in our faith, those things will become less and less attractive. Desire for the best in life will overshadow the hollowness and emptiness that comes from the things of the world. And what will be the response of those who are surprised that we do not participate with them? They will make fun, insult, and belittle us. We do live in a civil and socially polite culture so this reviling may be reserved for conversations in the absence of our presence. But how should we respond? We should rejoice and be glad! Our reward is great and we are merely experiencing the same kind of persecution that all of those in the kingdom have suffered at one time or another. So continue to encourage those who are of faith in Jesus, pray for those who persecute you, and know that God will use your life as a powerful testimony to His faithfulness and goodness.

Happy are those who are persecuted for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!