Daily D – Matthew 5:11-12

by David Bowman | Jun 17, 2022 | Daily D | 0 comments

Matthew 5:11, 12 “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.” (NIV)

—

Why would anyone ever dislike you? You are one of the most likable people on earth, right?

A coworker and I attended a meal earlier this week and were given the gift of baseball caps associated with the team in the city where we partner. The next night, we attended a baseball game between two other teams. If we had worn our new hats to that game, someone, and possibly many someones, would have taken exception to our fashion statements since both of the teams we saw play are regional rivals to the team we would have represented.

Those fans in that stadium would have been offended because of our alignment with a rival team. It would be like wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey in Philadelphia or Washington DC. People would be offended not because of anything we said or did, but because of who we aligned ourselves with.

Jesus says here we are blessed when people say and do mean things toward us because we are aligned with him. He says, “You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble,” (The Message).

No matter who you align yourself with, there are some people who are not going to like it. Best to align yourself with eternal values, those which stand the tests of time and eternity. If I am going to be criticized, let it be because I stand on the right side both now and forever.

Who are you offending today?

—

I will offend those opposed to all of God’s goodness, mercy, and grace.

—

Our Father, align my heart and mind with yours. Make me offensive only to those who have taken a steadfast stand against you. Empower me to live in such a way they come to see the positive alternative of knowing and experiencing you. Draw them to yourself so that they too may join your team now and forever. Amen.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Jeremiah 32:26-27

Jeremiah 32:26, 27 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Daily D – Jeremiah 29:7, 11, 13

Jeremiah 29:7, 11, 13 “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Daily D – Jeremiah 24:4-7

Jeremiah 24:4-7 Then the word of the LORD came to me: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”

Daily D – Jeremiah 18:1-6

Jeremiah 18:1-6 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.”

Daily D – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Jeremiah 17:7, 8
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”