Have you ever been attacked, belittled, persecuted because you believe in something or stood up for someone else? Maybe it’s not only momentary harassment, either. Perhaps your life has been ruined or your reputation destroyed simply for refusing to be compliant with what is wrong.
Laws are sometimes passed to protect “whistle-blowers” in certain cases, but what the law can protect you from falls far short of the damage that is often done. Most of what is wrong in human affairs simply can’t be dealt with by law. It is a terrible position to be in. But ever so, you too can be possessed by the kingdom of the heavens, and when you are, you will find that that is enough to allow you to enjoy a blessed life. You will experience an unshakable security in which you cannot be harmed.
Maybe you’ve been insulted, persecuted, and lied about because you are “one of those ‘Christian’ people.” That is certainly how Jesus’ disciples were viewed! A bunch of fishermen, tax collectors, mercenaries, and weirdos that followed a carpenter from Podunk. It is almost impossible for anyone who has not received this sort of treatment to understand how degrading it is.
From the human point of view, this may be the position most removed from God’s blessing, because you are, in the eyes of surrounding society, offensive to God Himself! Thus, if they destroy your self-worth, your reputation, or (as in the case of the disciples) just plain kill you--they think they are doing God a favor. A favor!!
But even still, Jesus says, jump for joy when this happens (James 1:2-4), from the knowledge that even now you have a great and imperishable reward in God’s world, in the heavens (I Peter 4:14-19). Your reputation stands high before God the Father and His eternal family (John 15:9-17), whose companionship and love and resources are now and forever your inheritance (I John 5:20).
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