The Word Given: Great is Your Reward
Matthew 5:11-12
Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
All those who came before us, who took a stand for righteousness endured persecution of one sort or another.
I recently watched the movie about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. If you're unfamiliar with him, look him up. He was a pastor in Germany during the Third Reich. He withstood Hitler and the way the German church caved to him.
The movie depicts his persecution and others. Many of whom (Bonhoeffer included) suffered death as the ultimate persecution for righteousness.
We are soft. It's the truth. But part of our reward in Heaven is based upon how we respond to persecution.
Say we give in a bit to avoid people making fun of us. Then we're part of the crowd. Then as part of the crowd, we're involved next time someone is made fun of. And before long our personal life reflects those who once desired to persecute us.
Then, without even seeing it our reward is gone.
Amen 🙏