Published on 06/11/2008

We come today to the last: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..."

When robots and pets try to live in the same house, bad things can happen. Today's Wall Street Journal carries a front-page story on the phenomenon. Apparently more and more people are buying domestic robots such as a Roomba automatic vacuum cleaner or the Roboquad toy. Dogs and cats seem to be uniformly unhappy about the intruders. Some destroy the invaders when their owners aren't looking. Others bark incessantly. One man found that scolding his new robot mollified his old dog. Whoever observed that pets are like their owners must have read the article.

For many days we've been exploring Jesus' Beatitudes, keys to that lasting happiness which transcends circumstances. We come today to the last: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

Jesus' first sentence is literally translated, "Blessed are the ones who have been and now are being persecuted for the sake of righteousness." Our Lord knew his followers would suffer for their commitment to him. And they did.

They were "insulted" (v. 11), the objects of gossip, slander, and ridicule. Enemies of Christ said "all kinds of evil" against them. Because they shared a meal which symbolized the body and blood of Christ, they were accused of cannibalism. Because they called this meal the "love feast" and welcomed prostitutes into their churches, they were accused of sexual perversion. Because they would not bow before a bust of the emperor and say "Caesar is Lord," they were accused of atheism and sedition. Persecution was a daily fact of life for them.

Before he was crucified upside down, the apostle Peter wrote: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4.12-13). Jesus warned his disciples, "When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another" (Matthew 10.23).

What has it cost you lately to follow Jesus? Some persecution is spiritual and internal, temptations and trials from the enemy. Others result from a public stand for Christ or insistence on integrity. Will you pay such a price? Let's continue tomorrow.