Jesus said:
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness . . . Matt. 5:10
Because of righteousness . . . that's the whole crux of the matter, isn't it? As believers we have been called to live righteous lives. We have been called to have hearts that are set apart to Him. We are called to journey through our lives on a narrow road. Take a minute to look at the picture below.
That's definitely a narrow and winding road, isn't it? Many times we picture the narrow road Jesus has called us to walk as running parallel to the broad road the world walks. That's not true at all. The narrow road Jesus calls His followers to walk runs right up the middle of the broad road the world is walking. Imagine your narrow road as the yellow lines running up the center of the winding road in this picture. Now imagine that you have begun walking this road at the bottom of the photo but all the traffic on the road is coming toward you in the opposite direction. What's inevitably going to happen? Yep. You're going to have a collision!And that, my sweet sisters, is exactly why "persecution because of righteousness" takes place! The philosophies of the world we live in are exactly opposite to the tenets Jesus taught in the Beatitudes. Those opposite viewpoints lead to opposing ways of life.
Jesus said: Blessed are the poor in spirit because He wants us to recognize our total dependence upon Him and walk in humility before Him and our fellow man. But the world we live in doesn't see humility as a virtue. The world is proud and admires self reliance and self sufficiency. If we walk the narrow road of humility, we will collide with the world.
Jesus said: Blessed are those who mourn because He wants us to have repentant hearts that mourn over our own sin and the sin of others. The world isn't interested in mourning over sin. In fact, the world would like to bypass sin altogether and convince itself that it's alright. If you walk your narrow road with a repentant heart that is yielded to your Maker, you will collide with a callous, indifferent and unsympathetic world.
Jesus said: Blessed are the meek because He wants our hearts so surrendered to Him that we live in quiet trust that He will accomplish what He has promised. If you walk your narrow road with a meek and quiet spirit that receives injustice without being quick to strike back, you will collide with a world that is proud, militant and resentful. You will collide with a world whose philosophy is "nice guys finish last."
Jesus said: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. If you have the hungry heart Jesus wants you to have and desire His righteousness in your life more than you desire anything else on earth, you will be on a collision course with the world. The world has no appetite for righteousness. It's motto is "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die!" Craving after deeper spiritual blessing from the Lord will always be a rebuke to the world's prevailing lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life.
Jesus said: Blessed are the merciful . . . Blessed are the pure in heart . . . Blessed are the peacemakers. Mercy, purity and peacemaking are concepts that are rarely ever found in the minds and hearts of unbelievers. If you have the forgiving, purified, and peaceful heart Jesus wants you to have, you will not be tolerated by a contentious, antagonistic world.
Every time you live the Beatitudes the way Jesus calls you to live them, you will collide with a world which has an opposite viewpoint and an opposing way of life. You will be persecuted because of righteousness.
As believers, we must be careful to distinguish between persecution and punishment. If you get into trouble because you talk too much, or meddle, or because you try to force your faith on people in an obtrusive way; that's not persecution.
If you are promoting your own cause and people reject you; that is not persecution.
If you are arrogant and abusive in your attempt to witness for Christ and people want nothing to do with you; that is not persecution.
But - if you seek to do God's will and honor His name and as a result you suffer; then, that is persecution. Persecution will always come as you journey the narrow road of Christianity through a world that is moving in the opposite direction. Persecution is a normal part of dedicated Christian living. Expect it. Don't let it catch you by surprise.
Press in, sweet sisters - and Press ON! A glorious prize awaits! His name is JESUS!
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