The Cost Of Truth

Matthew 5:1-12

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. (Matthew 5:11)

THE PERKS OF BEING SALT AND LIGHT in this world include the inheritance of Jesus, which is everything. The Beatitudes promise the Kingdom of Heaven and earth to those whose hearts are humble and know God. But being salt and light also comes with a cost; it puts us at odds with a world with an opposing agenda. When those who embrace the Kingdom culture interact with those who don’t, things happen. Our way doesn’t look very appealing or effective, and only those with eyes of faith can understand it.

So the attitudes of the Kingdom will have a dual effect, drawing many to you and driving many away. Embracing the culture of the Kingdom will not endear you to much of the world, and the result is friction, sometimes conflict, and even persecution. As a citizen of the Kingdom with some level of influence on your environment, you should be prepared to experience something on that spectrum. And if you find yourself at the extreme end of it, as many throughout history have—when you are persecuted for nothing more than being a follower of Jesus, one who bears his character and embraces his mission—you should rejoice.

That goes against our instincts—no one likes to experience injustice—but it can be a sign that you are representing Jesus accurately. Salt burns wounds, and light blinds eyes that are used to the dark. The world is full of wounds and darkness, and your influence may not always be welcome. Nevertheless, you are chosen and called, an ambassador of Kingdom ways, a representative of Kingdom culture, and a sign of Kingdom life to those who will receive it. Do not be moved from your mission or pressured to compromise your character, even in the face of insults and offenses. These are signs of your strength, the reaction of darkness to the light. Continue to shine, just as God has done for you.

{Jesus, you withstood insults, mockery, misunderstandings, offenses, and persecution with patience and grace. May I have eyes of faith and strength of character to do the same. Plant me firmly in the soil of your Kingdom and make me fruitful even in the harshest of conditions. Amen.