The Beatitudes: Steps to Follow (9)
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)
The first beatitude and the last beatitude promise a place in the kingdom of heaven. We come to the LORD in spiritual poverty and through the steps of mourning, gentleness, hungering for righteousness, and returning mercy for mercy shown we come to a place where we are righteous. It seems that a time comes when there is relative purity and we become peacemakers large and small. But the reward for taking the first step is the same as making it to the last. That first step is the most important.
One evidence of living righteously is persecution. This is strange. Would you rather do business with a righteous man or someone who is maybe not so honest. The righteous bless the world and the world hates the righteous. It is not logical, but it is the way the universe works.
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (John 3:19-21)
The wicked fear the light and the righteous who shine their lights. They fear that the light will expose their deeds—but look what happens when one comes to the light “his deeds [are] manifested as having been wrought in God.” The light is transformative.
But back to persecution. Expect it.
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. (2 Peter 4:12-16)
I like this part, “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
I also like this warning, “Make sure that none of you suffers as a … troublesome meddler.” There is persecution for righteousness and then there is persecution for being an irritating person. Perhaps this is why Jesus spoke of being peacemakers before speaking of persecution.
Jesus has more to say about persecution, I will write of that tomorrow.