Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Taunt, pursue in an evil manner, speak badly about with lies.
For the sake of Christ.
Here you are, trying to do right. Trying to follow the path God is leading you down.
Yes, you are now a leader in the church. But wait...get ready for the battle zone ahead.
Yes, incoming “friendly fire” is headed your way. Friendly fire is when the weapons used against you are not from the enemy, but from within your own camp.
Yes, this really happens. Too often. If you are in leadership in any way, you have felt this.
Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad. What? Rejoice when under persecution? When you are in the midst of this attack, rejoice. Why? It is a sign you are on to something good. You are fulfilling what the Lord has laid out for you to do. How can you tell? The devil is fighting you at every turn. He is even using your fellow believer to do it! Now if you are the one doing the attacking, think about that for a second...you are allowing the devil to lead you to attack those whom God has placed in leadership over you. Do not let the devil win!
Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
You are salt. You are enhancing the flavor. But if you lose your savor and fight in the battle what value are you? Be sure to revitalize your savor each day by having your personal devotion time. If you don’t fill up your spiritual tank, you will be trodden down under the foot of men.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
You are a light shining in a dark world. Do not hide that light in defeat from the battle. Shine!
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Let your light shine, yes...in front of others. Why? That they may see what you are doing. But most importantly, why you are doing it. That your good works glorify your Father in heaven. Shine, not for your sake...but for His. Keep up the fight, not so you win...but so He does. Our whole purpose in our lives is to glorify God.