For Righteousness' Sake - Himalayan Heights – July 27 Readings: Matthew 5:10-12 Persecuted

Matthew 5:1-12  The Beatitudes

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Matthew 5:10-12

Jesus' most famous sermon took place on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee. There is enough meat packed into the three brief chapters of Matthew 5-7 to sustain years of Bible Study. The passage begins with the Beatitudes, expressions of blessing. The principles here run counter to everything people instinctively believe in this world. We want to be rich but Jesus invoked blessings on the poor in Spirit - and on and on it goes.

Again, this week, read the entire passage daily, then give special focus to the highlighted passage.

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the humble,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Through the Bible Readings: Job 3-4, Acts 21:1–16, Psalm 88:11–18, Proverbs18:19–20

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: For Righteousness' Sake     

The Romans managed a sprawling empire which was not easy to control. They allowed their vassal territories a high level of freedom. Jews could be Jews and other cultures could live as they pleased. There was a high degree of religious freedom in the empire. The Romans did not care who you worshiped or how you lived...mostly.

There was one exception to that. If you were going to enjoy the peace and prosperity of the Roman Empire, if you were going to live free in it, you had to do one simple thing. Periodically you had to appear at an official shrine and swear your loyalty to Caesar, publicly declaring, "Caesar is Lord." No one believed the Caesar was really a god, but the oath was important. They had to know that you were loyal to Rome. If you were willing to declare that loyalty you would be able to worship freely and live by your convictions.

This presented a problem for the early Christians. They had run afoul of Judaism because they did not kowtow to the human traditions the rabbis had developed. Once the faith spread out into the Roman world, they came face to face with the purity of their commitment to Christ. The common greeting of Christians, their core conviction, was "Jesus is Lord." Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead and is Lord of all.

Because of their loyalty to Christ, it was unthinkable that they would also say that Caesar is Lord. The temptation might have been to cross their fingers and saw the words, even though they didn't mean them, but they loved Jesus to much to compromise their faith. They would not dishonor Christ. They tried to be obedient and good citizens, but because of this oath, they were often persecuted, viewed as traitors. They had their property confiscated, lost their jobs, were mistreated and imprisoned, and some were even martyred - All because they would not say the words Caesar is Lord.

It has always been the lot of the church of Jesus Christ to suffer. Sometimes, we suffer for our own sins. Sometimes, suffering is general - we live in a fallen world. But sometimes we suffer because of our stands for Jesus Christ, we suffer for righteousness sake. When that happens, we know that we are part of God's kingdom, and should rejoice because of the heavenly reward that awaits us.

Such suffering ought not surprise us. The Scriptures promise this to us when we walk in the ways of Christ.

• For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29–30
• If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18–19
• In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
• Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12

Our duty is to rejoice in our suffering, looking forward to the rewards that will be ours in Christ. We should pray for our persecutors and seek to be a redemptive agent in their lives. And we must run our race to the finish, enduring to the very end.

Father, help me to stand up against whatever comes. May my suffering be for righteousness' sake, not for my own sin and fleshly behavior. 

Think and Pray:

Is there suffering in your life?
What is the root of it? Is is a consequence of your own sin, your foolish choices?
Or are you suffering for righteousness sake?
What is your response to suffering?