Strong in Persecution

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Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

Blessed (loved and favored by God) are they (the ones) which are persecuted (pursued with continued acts of hostility)  for righteousness' sake (because of a heart right with God, faith in God, and actions pleasing to God) for theirs is the kingdom (royal power and dignity) of heaven (eternal and consummately perfect region where God dwells). 

I was perking right along feeling great about everything until I got to this last beatitude. God could have ended with the peacemakers and I would have been just fine. 

God never candy coats the truth. He never tells us only what we want to hear. He prepares us for real life, the good and the bad. 

He does, however, make sure we trust Him, are assured of His love, and have faith in His character rather than overwhelmed by our circumstances.

Look at the promises He has made us through the previous seven verses.

• Righteousness given to us when we believe in Jesus. Matthew 5:3
• Comfort in our sadness. Matthew 5:4
• A glorious inheritance. Matthew 5:5
• Perfect satisfaction when we crave Him. Matthew 5:6
• Mercy when we are merciful. Matthew 5:7
• God's peace when we bring peace to others.  Matthew 5:8
• His presence and fellowship when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Matthew 5:9

How does the idea of persecution sound now?

When we are persecuted, we can stand on our righteousness through Christ, be comforted in any circumstance, focus on our heavenly riches, be perfectly satisfied, receive mercy when we stumble, be bathed in peace, and walk in His presence and fellowship.

Persecution isn't desirable. It's painful, it causes us suffering, it often leaves us standing alone, it requires difficult choices, it brings fear, and it is heartbreaking. 

It is all those things but God, in His infinite love and grace, has given us the ability to stand in the face of the attacks we experience.

 We might not be joyful in suffering, but we can feel secure in God's promises.

Things might feel like they're falling apart, but we can stand on His firm foundation.

We might be terrified, but we can have faith in His presence.

We are clothed in Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

God is faithful, and He will keep His promises!

Therefore put on the full armor (promises) of God, so that when the day

 of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you 

have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

(Addition is mine.)

Please share how God has brought you through difficult days.

Peacemakers

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Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called 

children of God. Matthew 3:9

 Blessed (loved and favored) by God are the peacemakers (ones who have received the peace of God in their hearts and who bring peace to others), for they will be called children (righteous worshippers) of God.

The heart of this verse is in the flow-through. Jesus is the peacemaker in our souls. Paul says that we were once God's enemies but, because of Jesus, now we are His children. 

What a remarkable transition, from a state of war to a relationship of true peace. 

Peace is God's most precious gift. It wells up in us and blesses us in times of joy and in times of despair. It is rich, deep, and everlasting; it is beyond our understanding. 

• Peace when we are in chaos. 
• Peace when we are surrounded by the love of friends and family.
• Peace through sorrow or fear. 

It is a blessing that often draws others to God when they see peace in us during a difficult situation. 

Peacemakers. 
We are blessed with God's peace and we are blessed even more when His peace flows through us into the lives of those around us. Jesus describes the Spirit as a spring of overflowing water that flows up in us and through us.

And what blessings He gives us! We experience the joy of seeing people hug each other when there was only strife before, the relief when a misunderstanding is corrected, or the laughter as families who were once in conflict are now bound together in love.

We all yearn to be peacemakers but it's hard enough for me to keep peace with myself. I don't feel at all capable to be a peacemaker to others. And I can't, not unless I have God's strength to enable me. How does He transform me into a peacemaker?

Children of God
We are God's children! It's hard to imagine. But in this context, the word children doesn't describe us as the cherished children of our Father, although that is true. It describes those who have the freedom to worship God in righteousness. 

As God's children, we are righteous. Because of the blood of Christ, Our filthy garbs of sin are removed when we give our lives to Jesus, and we are clothed in His righteousness. What a supernatural miracle! He has transformed me from a repugnant sinner into His beloved child! Close your eyes and revel in the wonder of God's love.   

Righteous worship grows out of our love for God. It fills us with a sense of His presence. When we come before Him with an open heart, He works through His Word and the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of His Son.


The closer we are to Him, the louder we praise Him, the more we learn of Him, the more He transforms us and enables us to live out His character to those around us. 

Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way. The Holy Spirit teaches us to share the amazing news of Jesus as our Savior. Jesus is Light and, when we worship God, we become His light to the dark world. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and He enables us to become peacemakers. Through our worship, we begin to reflect the glory of God. 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you and you will become a peacemaker!

Are you at peace with God? Has that peace overflowed to those around you?

The Pure In Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Blessed (loved and favored by God) are the pure in heart (those whose life and soul have been made pure by Jesus and is centered on Him), for they shall see God (be admitted into His presence and enjoy His fellowship).

Pure in heart. I must admit, I've never felt pure in heart. My mind's full of unpleasing thoughts and a desire to sin. Praise God, we are not purified by our thoughts or works but by Jesus blood on the cross. He did for us what we are unable to do.

Clothed by Jesus righteousness. Luke 1:74-75 says God rescues us from the hands of our enemies and clothes us (Galatians 3:27) in Christ's holiness and righteousness. He doesn't see our filthiness, He sees our purity. Of course, we should come before Him in repentance because sin clouds our fellowship with Him; His fellowship with us never falters.

They shall see God. Rejoice, Rejoice! You are pure before God and you are allowed to come into His presence! When we pray, do we realize that we are fellowshipping with God? He draws near to us and fellowships with us. Isn't that a miracle?!?

Clothed by Jesus, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. We have such sweet fellowship with God, not only because we are clothed by Jesus, but also because Spirit lives in us to teach, guide, and protect us. We are shielded inside and out!

We are blessed by God because our hearts have been purified by Jesus,  we are made holy by Jesus' righteousness, and we are continually transformed by the Spirit.

What greater love is there?

How have you seen God transform you?

If this post blessed you, please share!

Those Who Are Merciful

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Blessed (loved and favored by God) are the merciful (not those who only express acts of mercy but those who do so as an expression of  God's character) for they will obtain mercy (receive God's graciousness when He frees them from deserved punishment).

I was a little hung up on the word obtain in this scripture. To obtain something generally means you have to work for it, pay for it, or earn it in some other way.

My New Testament Word Dictionary clarified the meaning for me and proved what I already knew to be true:

It's impossible to earn God's favor and love. Jesus purchased that on the cross for believers. 

Sometimes, it's easy to be merciful. Some things are easy to forgive. Most of the time I stumble. I'm too angry, feel betrayed, or I've been hurt too much. Surely God wouldn't expect me to show mercy to that person!

But remember, that's exactly what He did for us when He gave His only Son.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were 

still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his 

Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10

Be still for a moment and reflect on God's extreme mercy. Where would we be without it? He loves us beyond our comprehension. He took us when we stood in unbelief, lived as sinners, and were His enemies to bring us to faith through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. 

Amazingly, God's grace and mercy pour on us even more. He filled us with the Holy Spirit and He empowers us to express His character to those around us. He understands our humanness but He's there to give us the help we need to allow His mercy to flow to the others around us. 

We serve a God of infinite love, grace,   and mercy! 

How long has it been since I rejoiced in Him?

What about God causes you to rejoice?