FRESH
BREAD
The
Kingdom Series - “Pressing on to Righteousness”
“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”
(Matthew 5:10-12).
The early church
viewed persecution as a stamp of God’s approval. It was a further confirmation
of the genuineness of their faith. Jesus did not say if, but when “they revile and persecute you.” He
then followed up by reminding His disciples, “Blessed are you…” when
they persecute you, “for great is your reward in heaven.”
Before anyone can
remain faithful in the face of persecution they must first be resolute in their
pursuit of the Lord’s righteousness. This in turn leads to our walking in all
of God’s promises which are never determined by our circumstances.
Understanding this truth equips us to face any degree of reviling, persecution
or evil rejoicing and with gladness that exceeds comprehension.
When we look at
Matthew 5:11-12 we clearly see the promise of the eternal reward when facing
persecution for the Lord’s sake. This is an established truth. Great will be
our reward in heaven! Jesus then explains how any persecution His followers
encountered was compared to what the prophets before them faced. Yet in Matthew
5:10 the emphasis seems to convey something different than our facing
persecution, but rather our gaining what will prepare us to be overcomers when
we do.
In verse 10 the
Greek word translated persecuted is
the same word used in Philippians 3:14 where Paul, forgetting the things behind says, “I press toward the goal for the prize of
the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Instead of emphasizing an eternal
reward as in verse 11, verse 10 seems to focus on the present promises gained
when we choose to press on for the
sake of righteousness. This is further emphasized in this same context when
Jesus exhorts His followers to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness”, which is followed
by the promise, “and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
The Kingdom of God is about the
eternal reward reserved for those who are faithful in the midst of opposition
and persecution. But it is also about our resolve to press on in the midst of danger and difficulty looking for and pursuing
His righteousness. To do this brings the kingdom on the earth and prepares us
to walk in the promises that accompany it.
Resolve in your
heart to press on for the sake of righteousness regardless of your external
circumstances. If you do this, persecution, although it will come, will be seen
as a doorway to great reward.
David White
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