Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake?

Jesus’ Beatitudes

This is the last of the Beatitudes taught by Jesus in Matthew 5:10-12. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. It has been interesting studying The Beatitudes taught by Jesus. A pattern immerses throughout them which I have included after this short poem. Beverley Joy

PODCAST Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven and The Pattern of the Beatitudes

When others insult and mock you

And speak falsely against you

Rejoice and be glad, for God will reward you.

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Jesus never promised an easy life to those who follow Him

People and prophets have been persecuted throughout history

Jesus did not promise to roll out a red carpet

Nor did he profess that life is a bed of roses.

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He talked of self-denial and about carrying a cross

Without which you cannot possess the Kingdom of God

He taught that God’s Will must be the goal of life for those who believe.

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Followers of Jesus expect persecution and insults

Worldwide they are imprisoned for their beliefs

Yet, they refuse to compromise God’s holy standards

Instead, they rejoice in their suffering.

Beverley Joy © 2021 Simply Story Poetry

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The Pattern of The Beatitudes

We can see a pattern that flows through the Beatitudes

From our head to our heart and out through our hands:

As we mourn over our spiritual poverty

We stand before God exposed in our humility.

A hunger grows toward right behaviour

We desire to show mercy toward our neighbour

Family, friends and countrymen

Sometimes react in their own defence

Unwilling to accept differences

They insult, accuse and persecute.

But God has filled us with wisdom and peace

That transcends our humanness

That causes us to understand

The shortcoming of our fellow man.

Beverley Joy © 2022 Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.

Read or listen to other poems in this series: You can read or listen to other poems in this series The Beatitudes of Jesus – An Introduction, Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit? Blessed Are Those Who Mourn? Blessed Are The Meek? Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness? Blessed are the Merciful? Blessed are the Pure? Blessed are the Peacemakers?

References: Chuck Swindoll – Insight , John MacArthur – Grace To You, Alistair Begg – Truth For Life

God’s Psychiatry 1979, Charles L Allen, Fleming H Revell Company

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay