“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

(Matthew 5:10)

Who would persecute someone for righteousness?

The answer is more simple than it might seem: Someone who is opposed to the kingdom of heaven.

There are two kingdoms out there: the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of men.  The kingdom of men lives in rebellion against God and the ways of God.  People are citizens of this kingdom because they prefer the praise of men to the righteousness of God, thus they tend to persecute that righteousness.  That righteousness seems to strike a nerve in many people: they don’t like it.

A person who follows our Lord will be ‘blessed’ because they are living in fellowship with God.  Theirs will be the kingdom of heaven which is a kingdom that will never pass away, as will the kingdom of men.  There is nothing that men can do to us that could possibly be worth losing such a prize, and nothing in this life that can surpass the peace that surpasses understanding that we can receive in Christ.  Turn your eyes on Jesus, and let this world go in peace!