Is somebody saying things about you that are either complete falsehoods or distortions of the facts? Have you been doing your very best to express the qualities of God, to demonstrate God-given abilities in your work, church, and relationships? And now, instead of receiving respect and appreciation, are you getting criticism and condemnation?
This state of affairs is only too familiar. But it can and should be reversed. Christ Jesus referred to it in the Beatitudes. And what adjective did he apply to the person suffering from this condition? Blessed! And what did he tell him to do? Rejoice! His words are: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Matt. 5:11, 12
Why are you blessed? Well, to begin, you might see a kind of negative reason— you are not the fellow doing the slandering. He's the one you might really feel sorry for. He's letting personal sense, the belief that man is separated from God and is both good and evil and mostly evil, romp all over him. He's seeing devils where none exist and rivalry where cooperation lies, tormenting himself with jealousy and envy, striking out at all the enemies he imagines are surrounding him.
