Embrace the Within no. 121

“Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12 AMP

The idea of persecution for following the Way of the Lord is the emphasis again in this section of the Sermon on the Mount. If I am falsely accused of any evil because of my following Jesus, then I should be filled with joy in the Spirit. I shouldn’t look to defend myself from slander or fire back with accusations or taunts. I shouldn’t fight dirty. I should go high when others go low because my belief and my strength is from God and not from words. “How blessed you are when people insult [The Aramaic is “criticize you” (1 Peter 3:14; Acts 5:41). The Hebrew Matthew is “for the Righteous One”] and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me [See Ps. 119:85–87. We are to live in such a way that people have to lie when they speak evil of a believer in Christ]! So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you.”

Matthew 5:11-12 TPT

Folks are going to reject the Word because of me at times. Rather than judging the Word on its merit, folks will choose to judge the Word of God based upon my merit. Folks will create reasons to not believe the message based upon the messenger. It is much easier for them to negate me because I have done a lot that is wrong. It is much easier for me to be the problem in the delivery than to find fault with God.

“The arrogant (godless) have dug pits for me, Men who do not conform to Your law. All Your commandments are faithful and trustworthy. They have persecuted me with a lie; help me [Lord ]! They had almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not turn away from Your precepts.”

Psalms 119:85-87

When I am attacked by the godless, I need to remember that God is for me. I need to remain faithful to his commandments and trust that He is still in control. And that sounds really simple until you are under attack from the godless heathens I encounter daily. I need Your strength to carry me through at times. I need to not turn from You. I need to dig even deeper into your grace, mercy, and understanding.

“Blessed shall ye be when men reuile you, and persecute you, and say all maner of euill against you for my sake, falsely. Reioyce and be glad, for great is your reward in heauen: for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you.”

Matthew 5:11-12 GNV

I am by no means a prophet BUT I will also face the same type of treatment from the world. When I bring the Truth to liars, what else can I expect. The prophets brought the truth to Israel and found contempt. How much more contempt will I face when bringing the Truth to someone with no history of God. Someone with no lineage that ties him or her to God is going to be even less inclined to hear the Truth. In this day when we can have personal truth and “your truth is not my truth” is spoken even by members of churches, how much more difficult is the Truth going to be hated? “Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) are you when they persecute and revile you and say all kinds of evil against you for my sake, but speak falsely”. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is very great in heaven; for thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you”.

Matthew 5:11-12 NMV

God is happy when I am obedient to His commands. When I am doing what He wants in accordance with His Word, then I find His favor. And that is reward enough for me. Yet, I am also promised a reward in the life on the other side of death. I can rejoice in and be glad that my God is the God that is faithful and constant.

'“How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! 'Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great — they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.”

Mattityahu (Mat) 5:11-12 CJB

I pray today that no matter what others say that I stay the course in the Way of the Lord. No matter what men and women may say. No matter what lies and evil come from godless lips, I will continue to follow the Lord. And I will follow joyfully as an Ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven.

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoGodsNoMasters #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #NotMyWayYHWH