No Pain, No Gain

We do everything we can to avoid suffering. Diets, exercise and vitamins are all a part of the preventative action that we hope will keep us from various diseases and malfunctions of the body. However, because of the curse of sin we all face diseases and eventually death. It cannot be avoided. Likewise, when we adopt all the principles Jesus presented in the Beatitudes we are certain to face the suffering of persecution. The presence of evil in the world strikes back against the Righteousness that is at the center of life for kingdom citizens.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." So we can assume that anyone bound for heaven will come face to face with persecution. According to the beatitude and its expansion in verse 11 the persecution that brings a blessing comes for two reasons - for righteousness sake and for my (Jesus) sake. Oh the other hand, the absence of persecution also indicates the absence or at least the weakness of righteous, Christ-like living.

Someone has said that if we aren't doing anything to agitate our enemy then he won't be bothering us. Take heart if you experience suffering. The enemy is going to react against your righteous, Christ-like life. Even so, Romans 8:18 indicates that "... the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." That's the blessing that comes with persecution. We know that the reign of Jesus within us and our future reign with Jesus in heaven exceeds any suffering we might face now. Jesus adds that we should be glad to be included in the company of those great people of God who have suffered at the hands of the enemy before us as well. No one likes pain, but as athletic coaches often tell their players, "No pain, no gain!" We can be thankful for the pain of persecution because of the gain that we have obtained in Christ that brings it.