Persecuted For Righteousness

Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. - Matthew 5:10

What does it mean to be persecuted? Oh, friend, I'm so glad you asked!

Being persecuted means to be mistreated, driven away, to be pursued in a hostile manner (girl, they're not trying to get your autograph), or to run after.

What is righteousness? We talked about that a few posts ago - click here to read more about it - but I'll give a brief summary. Essentially, holy righteousness is as we ought to be. Like we talked about last week, we ought to be like Jesus.

Righteousness is being and living like Jesus.
What is our blessing for being persecuted for being like Jesus? The Kingdom of Heaven.
Where is the Kingdom of Heaven? Where God sits; absolute perfection.
Where does the Word say that Jesus sits? At the right hand of the Father.

*mind blown*

The more we seek to be like Jesus, the more we will be hated by the world. Why? Because the world loves sin. It loves to quench its thirst for fleshly desires and passions, and it can never ever get enough. Whereas, with Jesus, His peace and joy and love will always be enough for us.

If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. - John 15:18

Okay, so what kind of hatred are we talkin' here? Gossip and slander? Abuse and maybe torture? Name-calling and losing relationships?

Yes. Yes. and Yes.

Why, oh why, would anyone want that?

Because God said we won't know Him if we don't seek righteousness.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

It's my opinion that we should always have a healthy dose of humility in this matter - the opposite of pride, and pride is SELF-righteous and unholy.

I'd rather do the work the Father has given me to do, live as righteously as I can with all His help and strength, and possibly fail at the end of the age, than live for myself and these stupid fleshly desires and KNOW for certain I will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

This life offers nothing. It's my understanding that we're here to work for the Kingdom of the Lord, not the Kingdom of ourselves. We're here to bring souls to Christ to expand the Kingdom of God on earth.

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God will come, He answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; no one will say, ‘Look here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is among you.” - Luke 17:20 - 21

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. - Revelation 21:1 - 3

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