Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²²  “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.

 ²³  “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.  For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”  Luke 6:20-23.  

I think that we have the tendency to feel guilty that we are not poor, not hungry, and not hated, or that we feel that we should do some things so that we become poor, become hungry, and become hated.

But, I do not think that this Scriptures intend for us to feel either way.

Notice the introductory phrase “And turning His gaze toward His disciples”.  Jesus was primarily addressing His disciples,  and the primary message to His disciples was “Blessed are you”.  Jesus was encouraging His disciples.

Notice also the context.  In the immediately preceding Scripture, Jesus had chosen His disciples.  There was nothing special that they had done to merit this blessing.  They had just obeyed His sovereign and irresistible command to follow Him. 

This choosing of His disciples is an example that we too are chosen by Christ.  We too have just obeyed His sovereign and irresistible command to follow Him. 

Like the twelve, we too can and should receive this Scripture as a blessing rather than as a vague “blessing or curse” or as a “to-do” list.  We too are blessed. 

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.  

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him …”  Ephesians 1:3-4 (Emphasis added.)