Blessed Are the Persecuted? - Matthew 5:10 {Scripture Memory Challenge}

Blessed are the persecuted. Really? Who? And how?

NOTE: This is our last week of memorizing before we take a one-week break! Weekly blog posts and weekly emails will resume on May 21.

Memorize this week

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:10 (ESV)

Who are the persecuted?

Do you feel persecuted for your faith?

Sometimes we may feel persecuted. And sometimes we truly are persecuted.

But for most of us reading this in the United States, our persecution doesn’t compare to Christians facing incredible hardships in foreign countries for their faith in Jesus.

As you memorize Matthew 5:10 this week about persecution for righteousness’ sake, pray about how you can partner with God to be part of the blessing.

Because frankly, I can’t imagine feeling blessed if I were being persecuted the way some believers are being persecuted. When I read their stories, I fear I wouldn’t respond as faithfully as many of them respond.

But if Christ is true to His word, and I believe He is, then I want to take this beatitude at its face value. If Jesus declares a blessing of the kingdom on those who are persecuted, then it is so.

How can we help the persecuted?

Get educated. Pray. Give. Advocate.

Do you know which country has been #1 on the worst offenders’ list for the past 16 years?
North Korea
How many Christians experience high levels of persecution in the most persecuted countries?
215 million
What percentage of Christians experience persecution worldwide?
1 in 12
(per Open Doors statistics)

Maybe we aren’t being persecuted now. Then what better time to bless those who are being persecuted! Let’s stand with our brothers and sisters around the world.