Today we close out this study of the teaching and commands of Jesus with the last two Beattitudes.
Matthew 5:10-12 NIV
[10] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Simply? Don't worry about it when people don't like you because you are a born again, child of God. Great is our reward in heaven!! They hated Jesus. They ridiculed Jesus. They talked bad about Jesus. They mocked, scoffed, and made fun of Jesus. This is saying they will do it to us also. They did it to Jesus. They did it to the prophets before Jesus, and they will do it to us too.
No worries. Let them do whatever. We belong to Jesus.
Romans 14:8 NIV
[8] If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
If God is for us, who can be against us? Let people do what they do, nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:31-39 NIV
[31] What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Whatever happens, just keep on being who God has made all of us who believe, which is a child of God.
1 John 3:1 NIV
[1] See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
No matter what anyone says or does, they cannot take that away from us. We are children of God forever. Nothing can change that or take that away from us. We belong to Jesus forever!!
John 10:27-30 NIV
[27] My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [28] I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. [30] I and the Father are one.”
Always cling to that hope!! The hope held out in the gospel!!
Colossians 1:22-23 NIV
[22] But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— [23] if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
So, be prepared and love people. Show the love of Jesus and let them do what they will do.
Love you all dear readers,
Jeffrey Post
No comments:
Post a Comment