   Jesus said: 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice...for great is your reward in Heaven' (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV). To be persecuted for righteousness' sake is to live as Jesus lived - with his character, his motives, his obedience, his trust in the Father and his purity of heart. It's to be a peacemaker, to hunger and thirst for what's right, to turn your back on sin and to be a fountain of mercy. If you live this way, you will probably be persecuted just as Jesus was persecuted. You won't have to be confrontational in what you say or do - your very life will be confrontational. It's the contrast that will bring confrontation! 

   Jesus spoke the truth, lived the truth and was willing to die for the truth. He spoke up every time the truth he spoke was challenged. And he promises that when you are insulted and abused for the same reasons he was, if you remain faithful, you'll receive the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, you'll have a reward in Heaven and be given spiritual authority in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

   What you may suffer here on earth is only temporary rejection, insult or abuse. What you gain in Heaven will be eternal and glorious. The Bible says: 'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us' (Romans 8:18 NKJV).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Matthew 5:10 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Jer 14-17, Luke 21:25-33, Ps 69:19-36, Pro 8:30-31
    

Jesus said: 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice...for great is your reward in Heaven' (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV). To be persecuted for righteousness' sake is to live as Jesus lived - with his character, his motives, his obedience, his trust in the Father and his purity of heart. It's to be a peacemaker, to hunger and thirst for what's right, to turn your back on sin and to be a fountain of mercy. If you live this way, you will probably be persecuted just as Jesus was persecuted. You won't have to be confrontational in what you say or do - your very life will be confrontational. It's the contrast that will bring confrontation! Jesus spoke the truth, lived the truth and was willing to die for the truth. He spoke up every time the truth he spoke was challenged. And he promises that when you are insulted and abused for the same reasons he was, if you remain faithful, you'll receive the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, you'll have a reward in Heaven and be given spiritual authority in the Kingdom of Heaven. What you may suffer here on earth is only temporary rejection, insult or abuse. What you gain in Heaven will be eternal and glorious. The Bible says: 'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us' (Romans 8:18 NKJV).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Matthew 5:10 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Jer 14-17, Luke 21:25-33, Ps 69:19-36, Pro 8:30-31

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.

The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day’s devotion appeared to be ‘written just for me’

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.
The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day&rsquo;s devotion appeared to be &lsquo;written just for me&rsquo;