One-minute read.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10
People love to persecute and don’t enjoy peacemakers. Following Jesus brings opposition as people rebel against God, not wanting to submit their will to His. But when we cling to the Lord, He helps us persevere and rewards us with the kingdom of heaven.
In my pastor’s recent message, he talked about the parable of the workers found in Matthew 20:1-16. Some workers started at 9:00 a.m., some at noon, and others an hour before the day ended, but they all received the same pay. For years, I’ve struggled with the unfairness of this situation, but my pastor gave me new insight into this well-known story. When I think of the workers, I think of myself as the one who worked all day, and that’s why I judge it as unfair. But I have the wrong perspective. Jesus worked the whole day, enduring the heat; I only worked an hour. Looking at the parable from Christ’s perspective changes the entire story.
Jesus suffered persecution for us; we can’t begin to imagine His sufferings. The trials we face don’t compare to the pain He endured. God did the heavy lifting for us, sending His Son to die for our sins. We worked only an hour; Jesus worked the entire day. God rewards us with the kingdom of heaven for our work, made possible by Christ’s death on the cross. In Him, we find life.
Application:
God rewards us with the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for giving us Jesus, who endured persecution beyond our understanding so that we could have eternal life with You. Please help us stay focused on the mission of loving You and others as we share the good news of Jesus with others. Let us not grow weary from persecution as we complete the race You have for us.
IJNIP. Amen
