Matthew 5:10-12 "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!"
One of the major causes of unhappiness is trying to be like everybody else and trying to have everybody like you. There is a myth that says "In order to be happy I must be approved by everybody" but that doesn't work, does it? You just can't please everybody.
Jesus was a realist and was very honest about the consequences of following Him. He said, If you follow Me there are many people who aren't going to approve of your decision; they're not going to like it. If you live by these beatitudes we've been looking at for eight weeks, you can expect some people to be upset. So in His closing statement of Matthew 5:10 "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them!" The statement was so shocking, He repeats it twice. Again, in the next verse, "Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
What are the reasons for harassment. The second part of verse 11, "...because you are My followers." The fact is, the right reason for harassment is, "No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:20). Jesus said that and He's saying the right reason for harassment is being like Jesus. Evil people don't like Jesus. They don't like to attack Jesus directly, so they attack His followers. Romans 12:17 & 19 (Good News) "If someone does evil to you, don't pay him back with evil... Never take revenge. Let God's wrath do it."
Rather, use kindness and show your goodness. Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Is that your normal reaction when you're put down? But you never get ahead by trying to get even.
Matthew 5:44 "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Is that easy? No. Unusual? Yes. Is that what God says to do? Yes. He says, "Don't react; respond positively." When people put you down, you build them up. When people hassle you, you just be nice to them. You do not retaliate. The moment you start retaliating, they are in control. One of the greatest principles of life that we must learn is: we have control of our reaction. You cannot control the things that happen to you, you cannot control the things that people say about you. You cannot control the events, the persecutions, the hassles you'll get. But you can control how you choose to react. You can control how you choose to respond.
Respond positively. Love them. Pray for them. Pray for their good. Pray for God's will in their lives.
During Easter, Christians recognize the completion of Jesus Christ’s mission on Earth: to come, to die for the sins of humanity and to be resurrected on the third day. I may not have been there when the disciples watched their Lord breathe His last breath, but I can imagine how they felt: hopeless.
Rather, use kindness and show your goodness. Romans 12:21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Is that your normal reaction when you're put down? But you never get ahead by trying to get even.
Matthew 5:44 "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Is that easy? No. Unusual? Yes. Is that what God says to do? Yes. He says, "Don't react; respond positively." When people put you down, you build them up. When people hassle you, you just be nice to them. You do not retaliate. The moment you start retaliating, they are in control. One of the greatest principles of life that we must learn is: we have control of our reaction. You cannot control the things that happen to you, you cannot control the things that people say about you. You cannot control the events, the persecutions, the hassles you'll get. But you can control how you choose to react. You can control how you choose to respond.
Respond positively. Love them. Pray for them. Pray for their good. Pray for God's will in their lives.
During Easter, Christians recognize the completion of Jesus Christ’s mission on Earth: to come, to die for the sins of humanity and to be resurrected on the third day. I may not have been there when the disciples watched their Lord breathe His last breath, but I can imagine how they felt: hopeless.
Not only did He die in the most publicly humiliating way at the time, but He was also entombed. Now that’s final. For three days, there was nothing. He was gone. All seemed lost.
But then on Sunday morning…
This is why people get so excited about Easter. It’s a celebration that the most hopeless of circumstances could be revived. The resurrection of Jesus is the heart of the Gospel message and, perhaps even, the meaning of life: that there is hope. No matter how dark it gets, there is a light that shines. That’s why they call it “The Good News”.
I hope that during this Easter season, you take some time out to sit and reflect. Think about the areas in your life that you feel are dead and remember this message. Despite how “final” your Friday feels, Sunday is on its way and you can get a fresh start. Things will turn around. And you don’t even have to wait for Sunday, because every day is a second chance – a chance to change, to forgive, to forget, and to grow.
Have a wonderful week and I hope the past eight weeks of the Beatitudes have helped you to find the happiness that our Lord intends for us to have.
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