A Hard Reality

Jesus' main emphasis in the Beatitudes is that we must die to self and live for Him. Only by this are we empowered to live the Spirit-filled life of true peace, contentment, and joy.

A Hard Reality

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

(Matthew 5:10)

I love the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 5:1-12. All followers of Jesus are very blessed by these wonderful and intense teachings of Christ. The Lord does not hold back! He speaks rather straightforwardly as He details the expectations He has for His followers. We are to live on earth as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

I had an "ah ha" moment while studying the biblical text for today's devotion. It dawned on me that Jesus' main emphasis in these Beatitudes is we are to die to self and live for Him. It is only in dying to self that we are empowered to live the Spirit-filled life of true peace, contentment, and joy. We are to die to self so thoroughly that even when we are persecuted for righteousness' sake, we will have the spiritual depth, wherewithal, and maturity to respond not with retaliation but with rejoicing.

He is still working on me, as the little song says, to make me what I ought to be. I have not "arrived" in this process of sanctification, but I long to be able to live in such a way that these eight Beatitudes are a genuine commentary of my life.

I believe this last one is the hardest, and before we can do what Jesus expects of us, we must have experienced and keep on experiencing the first 7 Beatitudes: we have to be poor in spirit and humble, mourning over our sins, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker; then we will be able to rejoice and be exceedingly glad when we are persecuted. To reach that level of spiritual maturity will take a determination to die to self.

Yes, this teaching of Jesus on persecution is intense, and He gives us a tough prediction of what His people will encounter and must endure in persecution. But He promises to walk with us through every hard season. We trust God, and when the rain of mistreatment pours on our lives, we lift our eyes to God who loves us and always makes a way.

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Podcast of the Week

A Man Who is Impacting the World: Dr. David Wheeler

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show Dr. David Wheeler, professor of evangelism at Liberty University and advisor for the Liberty Pastoral Counseling Center. He also serves as one of the Campus Pastors. David discusses evangelism and vocational ministry as well as sharing his testimony and experience at Liberty University.

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