Walking Between Kingdoms

  Been thinking a lot about those verses in Matthew and 1 Peter lately - the whole persecution thing. There's something I'm starting to see more clearly about the difference between suffering for doing right and suffering specifically because of Jesus.
  The Matthew 5:10 persecution - that's when people push back because I'm trying to live righteously, trying to do what's right. But verse 11 is different. That's when the opposition comes directly because I'm following Christ, because I've declared allegiance to Him as King.
  I'm seeing this play out at work more and more. The whole system there runs on principles that just don't align with Christ's way. Sometimes I find myself having to make choices - do I go along with what everyone expects, or do I follow what I know Christ would have me do? When I choose Christ, people notice. They don't always understand why I won't participate in certain conversations, why I handle conflicts differently, why my priorities seem off to them.
  It's not just about being a "good person" anymore - though that brings its own challenges. It's about living under a completely different authority structure. Jesus as King means His values trump everything else, even when it makes things awkward or costs me opportunities.
  The educational world, the business world, even social circles - they all have their own unspoken rules about what matters, what's acceptable, how to get ahead. But Christ's kingdom operates differently. And when those two kingdoms clash, I'm the one caught in the middle.
  People talk. They make assumptions about my motives. Sometimes they spread things that aren't true. It hurts, but I'm beginning to understand this is part of what it means to follow Him. He faced the same opposition from the same systems. In a strange way, it connects me to Him more deeply.
Still learning how to navigate this without becoming bitter or withdrawing completely. There's got to be a way to stay engaged while staying faithful.