Finale

Thus we come to the end of the Beatitudes. Jesus has just taken us on a journey of the heart. He took us to a place of righteousness, a place of right standing with Him. How amazing is our Lord when we do have to fear disappointing Him because we do not know how to please Him. He gives us a road map through the Beatitudes and continues on throughout the rest of the Bible. Even in the Old Testament we are faced with examples of how to please our God.

Getting back to the subject at hand, the Lord ends the Beatitudes with a simple statement. It is a statement of fact, not possibility:

"Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake." Matthew 5:11 NKJV

It is a promise that we will get persecuted for our belief in Him. If we are not suffering for his name sake right now in our walk, then we must question the fact are we truly following Him? I am not talking about death our imprisonment, the suffering that I speak of is on a lower level. Are there those at work who talk about you because of your faith? Does your boss or friends threat you differently because of your faith. This is far from persecution, however, it does take us one step closer to that point of tolerance. If we cannot handle the discomfort of our daily lives how will we stand in that day against the forces of darkness for our King? If we cannot make a stand with those around us whom we know and have built a relationship with, how then can we say that we will stand against the devil? The truth is that persecution is coming, it will be coming very fast and swift. Plant your feet on the Rock, make Him your foundation.

But there is another promise:

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:12 NKJV

Who are we to think that we are above the patriarchs of our faith? No one of us have been through the trials of Job, no one of us has seen the persecutions of Daniel, no one of us have had a mission field that bore no fruit like Jeremiah. No one of us.

Continue to pray for the strength to stand in that day. Pray for the opportunity that your life might shine forth Jesus. Pray that you demeanor is so that no one can bring any ill repute against you save your faith in the Lord. Because of that life of faith, we have a reward in heaven. Our Lord promises us rest in Him, when that time comes. The Lord has equipped us with the knowledge. We will be persecuted, we will reap reward, we will live eternally.

Persecution

The final installment of the Beatitudes is concerning persecution. How appropriate this is that the Lord would save this for the last. Each step that was taken to up to this point brought as believers to the point of persecution.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10 NKJV

The path to the point of persecution has been a rough one. I am not speaking from personal experience, rather I am identifying with the list given by our Lord.

Poor in Spirit - One must empty himself of all goods and become the beggar, the one in need

Mourning - One must empty himself of all comforts; the Lord must be his only comfort as he grieves over his own state of spiritual being

Meekness - One must come to that place a quite authority, knowing that the Lord has called him to inheritance and chooses to wait on the Lord's timing

Hunger & Thirst - One must come to a place of emptiness, a place the world encourages to fill with sex, drugs and all other sorts of deception; this man chooses rather to fill himself with the things of the Lord, everlasting sustenance

Be Merciful - One must come to a place in his heart where revenge is no longer the forefront of life and thought, mercy and forgiveness has been given to him, so he must, too, offer the same mercy and forgiveness

Be Pure - One must always cleanse his heart. In this world, this man in inundated with nothing but filth. It would be hard for one to remain pure if he tried in his own strength, but he falls upon the Lord for support

Make Peace - One must come to a place where he is at peace with the Lord so he is at peace with the world, therefore he is able to make peace in the world.

Given this list of items, it is no wonder why the Lord tells us that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake will be blessed. This path, this treasure map that He has lain out is guaranteed to bring one thing, persecution. We are in the world but not of the world. The Lord has designed for us a lifestyle designed to keep us separate.

"It is a gift from God to be allowed to suffer for His namesake." (Spurgeon) Our Lord suffered constant persecution on this earth, so we must suffer as well. May the Lord bless you in your endevors to live a life separated and know this my friend, you are not alone.