Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
It is interesting to note that Jesus didn’t promise reward to only those who stand firm in the face of persecution, but to all of those who would experience it. Jesus obviously desires His followers to be steadfast when enduring persecution, but the promised reward carries no condition relative to how His followers would respond to persecution. It is therefore reasonable to say that this promise was meant more to inspire hope in the midst of persecution than it was to reward the successful enduring of persecution.
Jesus knew His followers would experience persecution both because of their faith in Him and because of their determination to live according to what He taught. He, therefore, wanted to inspire them with something that would give them enough strength to stand unwaveringly against opposition and enough hope to endure persecution.
Last week we spoke about how difficult it is at times to choose righteousness over unrighteousness—especially when the righteous way often involves persecution. The Greek root of the word translated as ‘persecution’ means to pursue. Therefore, persecution because of righteousness is to be identified, chased down and abused physically and/or verbally as a result of one’s stand against sin and evil.
The roots of persecution are hatred and fear. The goal of persecution is to eliminate any perceived threat to one’s belief system or way of life. No wonder that throughout history the world has persecuted God’s people!
Jesus said that the reward for suffering persecution because of righteousness is to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus went on to say that a great reward is waiting in heaven for those who suffer persecution for their belief in Him and determination to live as He taught. In his commentary on this passage of Scripture, Barnes stated, “Though God does not require us to seek persecution, yet all this shows that there is something in [Christianity] to sustain the soul which the world does not possess.”
So how are we to view persecution? First, we are not to seek it. Rest assured, if you continually stand for righteousness, persecution will find you! And second, when persecution does arise, persevere in the knowledge that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Today, let’s pray that…
· We will have the courage to stand against sin and evil.
· We will stand firm in the face of the resulting persecution.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Beatitudes 8
Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This Beatitude is unique. First, it is the only one of the Beatitudes upon which Jesus elaborated. And second, every other Beatitude that Jesus taught has to do with positive and desirable character attributes, but persecution because of righteousness has to do with what can happen when Christians begin to display these positive character attributes.
When Christians realise how poor in spirit they actually are, they begin to walk humbly before God and others. People in the world interpret this humility as vulnerability and seek to exploit this perceived advantage in both business and personal relationships.
When Christians mourn and grieve over sin, they no longer enjoy or participate in the sinful practices of those around them. Usually, they can’t even condone their friends’ involvement in these practices, some of which they used to engage in often. This has the potential to unleash a barrage of accusations from those trying to justify their continued sinful practices.
When Christian begin to practice meekness, the world sees them as weak and looks down on them.
When Christians hunger and thirst for righteousness, nothing else will ever truly satisfy them. And when they find the true righteousness that only Christ can give, suddenly they enjoy a peace and contentment that endures through good times and bad. People in the world will see this enduring peace and will desire to have it. However, many will reject the fact that it can only be found in Christ and will reject anyone who tells them so.
When Christians show mercy, it goes against the competitive ‘killer instinct’ so valued by the world. Forgiving 490 times means suffering 490 abuses without seeking revenge!
When Christians refuse to dilute the purity of their hearts with anything that will compete with their devotion to Christ, the temptations will come thick, fast and continuously. This relentless onslaught comes from our enemy through world and the people who embrace it. And the moment we give in, rather than congratulations, we receive a heap of condemnation from the very ones who were urging us on.
When Christians act as peacemakers, they put themselves in a position where they may suffer misunderstanding and harm from one or both parties in a conflict.
Today let’s pray that, in spite of the possible negative consequences, we will choose righteousness over ungodliness.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This Beatitude is unique. First, it is the only one of the Beatitudes upon which Jesus elaborated. And second, every other Beatitude that Jesus taught has to do with positive and desirable character attributes, but persecution because of righteousness has to do with what can happen when Christians begin to display these positive character attributes.
When Christians realise how poor in spirit they actually are, they begin to walk humbly before God and others. People in the world interpret this humility as vulnerability and seek to exploit this perceived advantage in both business and personal relationships.
When Christians mourn and grieve over sin, they no longer enjoy or participate in the sinful practices of those around them. Usually, they can’t even condone their friends’ involvement in these practices, some of which they used to engage in often. This has the potential to unleash a barrage of accusations from those trying to justify their continued sinful practices.
When Christian begin to practice meekness, the world sees them as weak and looks down on them.
When Christians hunger and thirst for righteousness, nothing else will ever truly satisfy them. And when they find the true righteousness that only Christ can give, suddenly they enjoy a peace and contentment that endures through good times and bad. People in the world will see this enduring peace and will desire to have it. However, many will reject the fact that it can only be found in Christ and will reject anyone who tells them so.
When Christians show mercy, it goes against the competitive ‘killer instinct’ so valued by the world. Forgiving 490 times means suffering 490 abuses without seeking revenge!
When Christians refuse to dilute the purity of their hearts with anything that will compete with their devotion to Christ, the temptations will come thick, fast and continuously. This relentless onslaught comes from our enemy through world and the people who embrace it. And the moment we give in, rather than congratulations, we receive a heap of condemnation from the very ones who were urging us on.
When Christians act as peacemakers, they put themselves in a position where they may suffer misunderstanding and harm from one or both parties in a conflict.
Today let’s pray that, in spite of the possible negative consequences, we will choose righteousness over ungodliness.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Beatitudes 7
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Most of us would agree that there is a difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. But what exactly are those differences, and why would Jesus identify peacemakers as being worthy of the title, ”sons of God?”
Peacekeepers don’t concern themselves with the underlying issues of a conflict, but peacemakers expose and try to resolve those issues.
Peacekeepers use force to suppress conflict or use silence to avoid it, while peacemakers allow conflict to occur as a natural part of any relationship.
Peacekeepers are concerned more about their own safety and comfort, while peacemakers put others’ safety and comfort before their own.
Peacekeepers fear conflict, but peacemakers manage conflict.
Jesus is a peacemaker. He addresses conflict between God and people, and He addresses conflict between people and other people. In the conflict between God and people, Jesus tackled the dividing issues of sin and death, and He resolved them once and for all. He could have suppressed this conflict by forcing all people into compulsory obedience. He could have avoided this conflict by not going to the cross, but instead, He put our wellbeing before His own and died a cruel and lonely death in our place. And “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
In conflicts between people, Jesus removes the basis for their differences. For example, the deepest-rooted conflict of Jesus’ time was between Jew and Gentile. Of this conflict Ephesians 2:14-16 says, “14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
Jesus is a peacemaker. And when we operate as peacemakers; when we introduce others to the only Way to be reconciled to God; when we put others’ wellbeing before our own; when we refuse to suppress or avoid conflict, but instead work hard to resolve it, then we are fulfilling our highest calling—to be like Jesus, to be sons of God.
Today let’s pray that:
· We would be effective in making peace between unbelievers and God.
· We would be useful in resolving conflict between people.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Most of us would agree that there is a difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. But what exactly are those differences, and why would Jesus identify peacemakers as being worthy of the title, ”sons of God?”
Peacekeepers don’t concern themselves with the underlying issues of a conflict, but peacemakers expose and try to resolve those issues.
Peacekeepers use force to suppress conflict or use silence to avoid it, while peacemakers allow conflict to occur as a natural part of any relationship.
Peacekeepers are concerned more about their own safety and comfort, while peacemakers put others’ safety and comfort before their own.
Peacekeepers fear conflict, but peacemakers manage conflict.
Jesus is a peacemaker. He addresses conflict between God and people, and He addresses conflict between people and other people. In the conflict between God and people, Jesus tackled the dividing issues of sin and death, and He resolved them once and for all. He could have suppressed this conflict by forcing all people into compulsory obedience. He could have avoided this conflict by not going to the cross, but instead, He put our wellbeing before His own and died a cruel and lonely death in our place. And “It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).
In conflicts between people, Jesus removes the basis for their differences. For example, the deepest-rooted conflict of Jesus’ time was between Jew and Gentile. Of this conflict Ephesians 2:14-16 says, “14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”
Jesus is a peacemaker. And when we operate as peacemakers; when we introduce others to the only Way to be reconciled to God; when we put others’ wellbeing before our own; when we refuse to suppress or avoid conflict, but instead work hard to resolve it, then we are fulfilling our highest calling—to be like Jesus, to be sons of God.
Today let’s pray that:
· We would be effective in making peace between unbelievers and God.
· We would be useful in resolving conflict between people.
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