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具有吊诡意味的是，这些经文紧跟在基督发出使人和睦的呼召之后。我们蒙召将医治和盼望带给一个迫切需要它的世界。我们站在神的立场，为着他人的益处努力服侍。

然而，人们有时却会选择用愤怒、敌意或公然的逼迫来回报我们。按着耶稣的说法，这不是一件是否会发生的事，而是一件在某个时间和地点必然会发生的事。

逼迫可能以各种形式出现。一句尖刻的评论。一段破碎的关系。身体或情感上的虐待。你们中的一些人在读这一段的时候知道这种痛苦和跟随耶稣的代价。你以往经历过，或者你可能正在经历。

耶稣要在这些困境中鼓励我们。当世界无法理解我们为什么选择这样的生活方式时，耶稣应许说，天国是我们的。我们若站立得稳，持守我们在基督里的盼望，我们就能经历到平安临到了。

这并不意味着当我们被人拒绝、错待时，我们不会感到痛苦。但在内心深处，我们有安慰，知道神会供应我们的每一个需要。最后，我们将分享祂对罪、死亡和每个仇敌的得胜。

It’s ironic that these verses come immediately after Christ’s call to be peacemakers. We are called to bring healing and hope to a world that desperately needs it. We are on God’s side, trying to serve in the best interests of others.

And yet, people sometimes choose to repay us with anger, hostility, or outright persecution. According to Jesus, it’s not a question of whether this will happen but of when and where it will happen.

Persecution may come in a variety of forms. A snarky comment. A broken relationship. Physical or emotional abuse. Some of you reading this know the pain and the cost of following Jesus. You have lived it, or you might be experiencing it now.

Jesus seeks to encourage us in these difficult moments. When the world fails to understand why we live the way we live, Jesus promises that the kingdom of heaven is ours. If we stand firm and hold to our hope in Christ, we can experience a measure of peace.

That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when people reject us and mistreat us. But, deep down, we have comfort, knowing that God will provide for our every need. And in the end, we will share in his victory over sin. And death. And every enemy.