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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
Remember the last time you felt insulted, perhaps even ridiculed or humiliated?
What emotions welled up inside you? Resentment, anger, ideas for retaliation?
This week we’re digging deeply into some of the most powerful things God has ever said to the human race, through His Son Jesus, found in Matthew’s account chapter 5:8-16, as we continue building our several week theme: “God’s Restored People Engage the Darkness with HOPE”.
That you and I live in a time of deep global darkness bordering on hopelessness and despair in some places, is no secret. That politicians and entertainers and media and even social media are promising hope in the darkness, is also evident and plentiful all around us. But the despair continues and the darkness is spreading, do you agree? Their empty promises only breed more darkness.
So my purpose in “Walking with Jesus” is always to bring you to what God says, for His voice is the ONLY voice offering true HOPE in the confusion, the fear, and the darkness. Yesterday we looked at these words of Jesus: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the people of God.” (Matt. 5:8,9)
Today, let’s hear what Jesus said next: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God. (Matt. 5:10)
Does that really happen in our world? Are people who are doing or saying God honoring, good and helpful things opposed and even persecuted? Yes, all the time! WHY is a logical question!
Well, it’s because darkness likes it dark and the light is hard on the eyes in the darkness. Deceit breeds and welcomes more deceit. Slander breeds more slander. Injustice breeds more injustice. That’s why many places of our world can’t build prisons fast enough, or routinely need to open the doors and release lots of convicted law breakers, because there’s no room for the long line of the newly convicted and condemned prisoners. Look around the country where you live and it won’t take you long to see opposition, persecution, attempts to silence truth and holiness (righteousness) even by death if need be!
But Jesus assures those persecuted for trying to bring God honoring hope through doing and saying what is God’s holy truth, that heaven awaits you and it will be glorious and eternal! God Himself will affirm the righteous, reward the righteous, even celebrate the righteous.
That’s the picture found in Revelation 4,5,7 and 19. So, if you are trying your best to bring God’s holiness and hope into our dark world and are being opposed and persecuted, be encouraged, you follow in a long line of God honoring men and women stretching back several millennia who have experienced the same. Most of them are now in heaven with Jesus, waiting for you! They are part of the “great cloud of witnesses” Hebrews 12:1 refers to.
Next Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11,12) Do you notice the little phrase “…because of Me”?
Is there a difference between opposition to God and God’s TRUTH, and rejection of Jesus and all people who claim a relationship with Jesus? YES! While they are very similar, they are different. Jesus made many bold statements but I want to give you four which fuel the fire of hatred for Him. . .
1. “I who speak to you am HE.” (John 4:26) Jesus was in the region of Samaria, talking with a Samaritan woman of ill repute, at the town’s water well. She had stated “I know that when Messiah (Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” (John 4:25) So you can see Jesus’ response, claiming to be the Messiah she was awaiting, shocked her and has been greatly offensive to every Jewish person since that day. . . unless they are willing to consider that Jesus was telling the truth! He IS the great Messiah whom all Jews have anticipated since the days of Moses.
2. “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6) You may remember Jesus said this when in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem, on the night before He went to the cross. This statement angers lots of people around the world who insist there must be MANY ways to God, and they refuse to accept that God would only provide one way to Him and eternal life. And that one way is ONLY Jesus.
3. “Whoever believes in the Son of God has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36) Of course this awakens all kinds of anger from people who reject the notion that Jesus is God’s Son, or that God’s wrath will be poured out upon them if they refuse to acknowledge and trust Jesus. Even worse, the concept that God’s wrath is already upon them, that they are born in sin, and only through Jesus, is escape possible, is simply outrageous and drives many people crazy!
4. “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) As difficult as the other three statements are for most of the world to accept, this one is the back-breaker. That Jesus is God, is simply beyond comprehension to most people. That Jesus and Almighty God the Father are one in the same, is beyond belief for most of the world’s population!
And that, my dear “Walking with Jesus” friends, is why, if YOU identify yourself to be a friend and follower of Jesus, MOST of the world’s population will oppose you! I invite you to take a moment right now, where-ever you are in the world at this moment, and first think and then pray.
Think about WHO you believe Jesus Christ to BE, truthfully, honestly. And WHAT do you believe your relationship is with Jesus? Then take a moment and talk with Jesus right now, and tell Him whatever your heart feels. . . and then listen by re-reading Matthew 5:1-10 slowly. Do you see yourself there, on that hillside? Do you consider yourself to be a modern day ‘disciple’ of Jesus? Talk to Jesus right now. And to help you, I’ve included a very special song.
I’ve not done this before but I’m offering you two links to the same song “In Christ Alone”. God gave this inspiration to Keith & Kristyn Getty several years ago. The first link is Kristyn Getty singing the song alone, 12 years ago. Very worshipful and powerful.
The second link is Kristyn and Keith Getty along with a wonderful group of worshipers and instruments lifting this great song up to God in praise only a few months ago, before Coronavirus struck the world. Oh I hope they help you praise Jesus Christ, the ONLY Savior for our world, and if He is your Savior, I hope these songs greatly bless your soul, as Matthew 5 promises.
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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