In an unfair, fallen world, we've sought the true happiness Jesus offers by exploring his Beatitudes.  As we read them one more time, ask yourself which is God's word to your soul this morning:

Relational challenges are a part of life, but those who follow Jesus can expect to pay an even higher price.  We have been seeking the true happiness he offers by exploring his Beatitudes. 

We can all feel persecuted for some reason.  The key is to suffer for the right cause. 

As we have seen, believers in the first centuries of Christian history paid a higher price for their faith than many of us in the West do today. 

Last Friday we noted that some of us have withdrawn from the spiritual battle.  We don't know many non-Christians, or interact with the lost world more than we must.  It's hard to see the enemy from the back lines.

If you’re like most of us, you may be a bit uncomfortable right now.  It is a biblical fact that Christians experience persecution for their faith, but many of us do not. 

Persecution has remained a fact accompanying the Christian faith for all the centuries from their day to ours.  Seventy million believers have been murdered across Christian history for no reason except that they would not renounce their faith in Jesus. 

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

We've learned that when we accept God's love, obey his word, receive his forgiveness, and trust his will, we can be at peace with our Father.  When we initiate pardon and seek reconciliation, we can be at peace with others. 

As we've learned in recent days, Jesus shows us the direction in his Beatitudes.  Last week we studied the seventh: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).