Day Five Matthew 5:11-12
11 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. 12 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 5:11-12 (NLT)
Learn From the Word
As He ends the Beatitudes, Jesus gives His audience one more backward teaching. He says that anyone who is persecuted for their faith should be happy about it! People who are mocked and falsely accused for their faith on earth receive a great reward in heaven. Jesus reminds them of the good company with which they stand as nearly every prophet in their history faced the same kind of persecution.
Put It Into Practice
If you haven’t faced persecution of any type for your faith, take some time to revisit the traits of the first 12 verses from the Sermon on the Mount and ask if they're true of your life. Following Jesus doesn’t come without cost, but the reward is beyond worth it if we can see with eyes trained for eternity. Don’t finish your week without taking some type of action that gets you out of your comfort zone a little. True blessing from God and happiness await!
For Families with Kids at Home
Ask your kids about a time when they did the right thing, even if it was hard or unpopular. If they can think of a time, encourage and celebrate them! Doing the right thing won’t always be popular, but God gives us the courage when we ask Him for help. Encourage your kids that the next time they need to do something that might be hard or unpopular, but it’s the right thing to do, that God will be there cheering them on!