Written by: Shawn Cutting
"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Ma<hew 5:10 (NASB)
When I think of the word “blessed”, my first inclina:on is to ponder what I have been given (blessed with a beau:ful wife and
wonderful kids, blessed with a nice home, blessed with a great job, blessed with an amazing ability to quote movies and belt out
80’s power ballads…you get the idea). These things are “rewards” for hard work, prac:ce, and overcoming of fears. But some
deeper contempla:on of the word “blessed” reveals to me things that I have been given that I did not work for (blessed with the
love of God and others, blessed with giLs from friends and family, blessed with good health).
The Bea:tudes in MaNhew 5 speak of how individuals are blessed according to what they do or how they live. All but two could
fall into the idea of “I do something or live a certain way, then I get the blessing.” If we look at verses 4-9, the individual’s ac:on is
what brings the reward – mourn and you will be comforted, be gentle and you will inherit the earth, be a peacemaker and you will
be called a son of God – the individual makes the choice to do or be these things. But if you look at verses 3, 10, and 11, the thing
that one is blessed for is not because of what they have done, but what has been done TO them, and “theirs is the Kingdom of
Heaven.”
Since we have been studying the Bea:tudes, I have been wondering what the phrase “theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” actually
means. If it is referring to the reward of living a life devoted to serving the Lord, then why don’t the peacemakers or the merciful
get the Kingdom of Heaven? I believe that as followers of Christ, we will all receive that most wonderful reward of eternity in the
Kingdom with our Savior! Perhaps, the Kingdom of Heaven spoken of here is not a des:na:on, but something that is available
now. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (NIV).
We hear accounts of missionaries who are persecuted, tortured, and even killed for teaching the Word and sharing the love of the
Father. Those who survive these persecu:ons oLen go back to the very same field, risking the same difficul:es (or worse), but
with even greater faith and resolve to spread the Gospel.
There are also those who decide to live a righteous life at home, at their school and at their job, and face persecu:on from their
family or peers. Righteous employees who stand up against shady business prac:ces face termina:on or harsh working
condi:ons. Honorable children get bullied or shunned for not par:cipa:ng in chea:ng in school. These situa:ons, although
maybe not as severe as the missionaries’, oLen require greater strength to endure because of the rela:onships that are involved.
Do you find yourself facing persecu:on in the places you live or work? Jesus accessed the Kingdom when He prayed in the garden
just before being taken to be tried, convicted, and tortured to death on the cross… all to fulfill His mission of conquering death
and sin for our salva:on!! He didn’t just endure. He overcame!! That same power is available to you at all :mes, in every
situa:on. The Father is always there for you when you cry out, and He will give you strength to not only endure the persecu:on,
but to overcome it!
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