Matthew 5:11–12 (AMP) — 11 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually
prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and
persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My
account.
12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great
(strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
NOTE: We hear the
beatitudes so often that I think they lose their beauty and impact. Life can be
tough, and we can feel like a minority, although our suffering pales with those
whose very lives are threatened in many parts of the world. Still, it does not
feel good to be attacked as antiquated or out-of-touch or even evil, because we
hold to ideas that are called hurtful. The amazing thing is that the worldview,
the culture of our time (I like to call the Babylonian worldview) is what is
ultimately hurtful and destroying the families and even the souls of its
adherents. We have so confused sexual identity to our great detriment. Genesis 1:27 (ESV) — 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of
God he created him; male and female he created them. As we move away
from our original design and purpose we will run into design faults, because we
were not intended to live in such a way. We are warped and deceived and slowly
destroying ourselves as we move away from the creator's intent. Believers are here
to be that voice in the increasing wilderness, the last whimper of reason. Yes,
we will not be accepted, but Jesus did not say we would. But there is blessing
and there is reward. We just need to stand strong. … And that does not mean to
act in anger, but as Peters says, 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) — 15 but in
your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do
it with gentleness and respect, …. May we be his witness as we stand
against the Babylonian assault against all that is good and holy, but with
gentleness and respect (the opposite of those who ridicule us).
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