1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 9b - Blessed are those who are persecuted _2_ | Page 3

Monday
Reading: II Corinthians 11 v 16 – 12 v 6
This week we close our series of devotionals on Matthew 5 by considering one of the
most contradictory beatitudes. Jesus declares that you who are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake are of all people the most “happy”. This “wisdom” of Jesus
certainly does not fit with the prevailing wisdom of the world today. In a recent
magazine article on the subject of “happiness” the writer suggested that “happy
people” have three different criteria:
1. they refuse to acknowledge any negative feelings;
2. they need to have a sense of accomplishment based upon their own selfsufficiency;
3. They enjoy people, but are not self-sacrificing.
This definition sounds like the definition of a Pharisee. Jesus, however, contends
that truly happy people exhibit the opposite to all of the above. He suggests that
happy people acknowledge their weaknesses, mourn over sin and are meek as
opposed to being proud.
The apostle Paul had every reason to be happy as per the first description of
happiness. He graduated university top of his class; he was well-travelled; spoke five
languages; he was a personal friend of a king or two; he died and came back to life;
he spoke in tongues and had been given a personal guided tour of heaven. He had
every right to be happy at the first level. He writes, however, that he does not glory
in any of these things, but that the true credentials, as they relate to his happy
state, revolve around prison sentences, lashings, and beatings with rods. He was
once stoned, three-times shipwrecked, lived in perilous situations at sea, in prison
and contending against Jews, Gentiles and robbers. In this “happy” state, he knew
what it was to be weary, exhausted, hungry and thirsty. It would be true, I believe,
to say that Paul’s happiness and his glory are found in his life style of righteousness
and in his own personal persecution.
Paul would very much agree with the saying that Helene has posted on our fridge at
home: “When we stand before God one day, He will not look us over for diplomas or
degrees, but for scars.”
Any believer, who thinks that the Christian life is going to be plain-sailing, just
needs to look at the lives of some of our biblical heroes to recognise that this is not
true. As much as I am sure, that there will be good times where we experience the
wonderful providence of God by way of His protection and provision, we would only
be preaching half the truth if we were not to tell you that there will surely come