Verse: Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Devotion
Sometimes doing the right thing does not make us happy. I need to go to the gym this morning because I know that exercise is good for me. It is the right thing to do to stay healthy. Lunch is going to be a salad. Again, I would rather eat brownies for lunch but I know that vegetables are better for me than sugar. There is no one to be mad at for these right actions causing right outcomes. It is just how our bodies are made. If I don’t exercise and eat right, there are consequences. If I do, there are better outcomes for me.
In Matthew 5: 3-12, Jesus is telling a large crowd what brings blessings into their lives. Being blessed is different than being happy. Blessed means more like ultimate well-being and spiritual joy. While being persecuted for doing the right thing may not make you happy, it keeps you right with God. James 4:17 says “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
Doing what is right keeps you in community with other believers. May his kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven. And right living is a mark of those that have accepted Jesus’s give of salvation and eternal life.
While we may not feel persecuted, we can be mocked for doing right. People may see you as crazy to give money to the poor (what a waste) or to not cheat on your taxes (doesn’t everyone?). Others in society may see you as weak if you care about others, cry with those that are hurting, give significantly to the church. They may see you as haughty or judgy if you are faithful to your spouse, work to repair relationships with friends, don’t drink to excess.
Persecution can come in many forms. But we know that Jesus died so that we could be in a right relationship with God. Maintaining that relationship by doing what is right is what is best for our souls. So skip the brownie today and keep doing what is right and you will be blessed.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to do what is right in your eyes today. Show me where I am falling short of who you want me to be. Thank you for loving me always and helping me to ensure the criticism that can come from walking your path of righteousness.
Author: Brad Dunn
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