"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

We will be greatly rewarded in heaven if we are reviled, persecuted and slandered for being Christians.  I used to think this beatitude was reserved for those missionaries or citizens in far-off lands who are openly and physically persecuted for trying to live their faith.  But now I believe otherwise.  "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3.12)

The spirit of the world is the enemy of Christ.  Today there are so many who follow the spirit of the world!  Even Christians have not wanted to be Christians if it would mean losing the world's favor.  Given this state of affairs, those who strive to be true Christians will be reviled and scorned simply because of the mark they bear; simply for despising the world and following Christ.  One need only consider the young person starting out their life and being abused for trying to stay chaste.  Or the employee in the workplace who is deliberately marginalized and passed over because they will not compromise their Christian values.  Even among one's own friends, indeed among one's own family, one can suffer persecution when trying to change and live their faith more deeply.  "You have already spent enough time doing what they like to do: living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing and lawless idolatry.  They are surprised you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation and so blaspheme." (1 Peter 4.3-4)  "Do not be astonished therefore that the world hates you." (1 John 3.13)  "If you belonged to the world the world would love you as its own.  But I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hates you." (John 15.19)

"Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."  Will we accept this and look for our reward in heaven, or abandon the struggle so that we can be friends of the world once again?  If we accept the persecution which comes from living a godly life, do we rejoice over it, knowing what it means, or do we wear the long, sad face of a false martyr?  "You will have already received your reward." (Matthew 6.2)