Sermon on the Mount; the 8th blessing:
Matt5 v10- Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.See also Luke 6vv22,23 parallel to Matt 5vv10,11. 2/Two blessings.
Luke 6v23 also parallel to Matt 5v12 concerning what we should rejoice for.This is followed by 4 woes in Luke 6vv24-26.
Persecution is a test and proof of character, without which we are left with guess work and uncertainty.
Persecution is when we can show ourselves relying on the Holy Spirit, his providence. We enjoy His grace evermore, and can speak of His works on us physically.
Persecution is when God see fit in our sharing the sufferings of Christ for the edification of the church/assemblies.
Persecution is a process for maturity. There are resons for rejoice (Luke 6vv22,23).
Persecution is fire for testing gold, producing better/purer gold.
Persecution help us strip away impurities.
Persecution adorns the passport to heaven.
Persecution gives us ammunition for evangelism, loving mankind and our brethren.
Persecution helps us demonstrate our love of Christ and for Christ, and for the assemblies of God.
Persecution leaves us sweet memories of our loving Lord.
Persecution cannot destroy true faith/belief in God. God is in control. We are not left in hopelessness.
It is decreed by the righteous God, and consequently, can only be good.
4 Woes to those who persecute unrighteously. 4 woes to the evil doers.
God is patience, and kind.
God is long-suffering.
God will bring forth His justice at His proper time. His judgment is of old, as when the evil doers treated false prophets of olden days. There is no difference between different eras and epochs. The same justice is shown forth.
The strong for the weak.
Would you like to suffer for Christ, so that the love of God may be manisfested to those around you?
Do you want to partake His cup, so that you will share His glory?
Tested and refined like Gold. Coming out true, pure, and irreducable.
Do you wish that your persecutors may live longer so that they may have greater chances to repent from their evil deeds and come to share the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit with you?
They will have no more chance but to be cut off from God if they die right now.
Would you like to suffer for their sake? Their happiness depend on your long-sufferings too.
Judaism:
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowmen. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary." (Rabbi Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat, 31a)This says of the don'ts and not positively for the dos.
Persecution is painful and not welcomed. Yet the followers of Christ are willing to undergo persecution as Christ had gone through, for the sake of the kingdom.
Hinduism:
"This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." (Mahabharata 5, 1517).Points certainly get missed out, if this is the sum/total of duty.
For the senseless, hurting feels the same as healing. So those who try to practice senselessness promotes this everywhere. Another negative way of living.
Christians do not encourage suicide; although the followers of Christ would die for His sake.
Christians are not commanded to persecute others by shedding blood and terminating life. Ideologies can cause much pain. The Good News of Christ can cause much pain to the hearers, scoffers, evil-doers, those who hate the Gospel. Christians are not obliged to stop preaching to them and to others just because there are objection and hatred towards Gospel preaching and doing good. Serving God has priority over all things; for He is Lord over all creation.
Buddhism:
"Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." (Udana-Varga, 5, 18)Another negative view. Where is healing in the discussion?
A person is already hurting himself and others by not serving the living and loving God.
Buddhists hurt the world by preaching idols and demons. Buddhists actively lie to others, saying that all faith/religions lead to the same God and kindness, where there is only one God, who is the God of Israel; and there is no place for Buddha.
Buddhists are willing and ready to fight and kill those who upset their faith and threaten to overflow Buddhism. Do Buddhists find shedding blood painless? Joyful? Bearable? worthy of promotion?
The destiny of christians are ordained and destined by God, and not by their persecutors. So, christians can rest in peace in the hands of their persecutors and murderers.
Confucianism:
"Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you." (Analects, 15, 23)This is more universal and god-like.
Christians are told to love and bless their persecutors. For it is love that they are after and promoting.
If persecution can be stopped by peaceful means, christians would gladly work on them. A good eye for a bad eye. Good will for wicked aims.
Taoism:
"Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." (T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien)There is a care for everybody in this system of thought and conduct.
For a system of equilibium, there is an ethical warmth of care (philadelphia/brotherly-love).
After gaining the love of Christ and enjoying it, christians would like to promote this glory of God to all mankind.
Lossing sinners is lossing objects of love.
Happiness is not caused by killing sinners, but winning enemies over by the joy of eternal salvation.
Christians are the salt and light. The disciples of Christ are the salt and light. They were healed and fed and were satisfied.
Christians still stand out and stand up after the 4 woes. The justice of God is everlasting.
Christians belong to the living water - ever flowing - ever quenching. Many waters cannot quench love - living water. Here we have the parallel of water with water again.
There is the god of this World and God Almighty, also being in this World and present everywhere. God is great by comparison. God is also great anyway. He is! It is not just a matter of comparison.
Do not just seek approval of men. Seek first God and His Kingdom, by repenting first - turning away from Sin (nature) and sins (happenings, scores) and running towards our Father in Heaven. Be ever nearer to Him by His Grace.
His Grace is all sufficient.
He is love. He would have told us if it were not so.
He deserves our trust and our love. Praise Him! And be blessed!
Behold, He comes quickly; and has already come. Base our lives in Him. Hide behind Him, His mighty wings, His foundation.
Praise Him with everlasting praises! Alleluia!
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