Kingdom Goals (3)

Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (6)

Pray Psalm 115.1-3.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.

Sing joyfully Psalm 115.1-3.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, LORD, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Read Matthew 5.1-12; meditate on verses 11, 12.
Contemplate the reward that awaits you for your faithfulness.

Prepare.
1. What kinds of persecution did Jesus specify here? 

2. How should we respond to such persecution? Why?

Meditate.
Jesus wraps up this portion of the sermon on the mount by enlarging on the theme of persecution as what we must expect in the Kingdom of God. It must be an important theme and a most real expectation, as it’s the only one He elaborates in more detail. He mentions reviling us, speaking evil of us, and lying about us as particular forms of persecution to consider. We know, however, that those who hate Jesus will do much worse than this to His followers, when they are able. 

Get your mind around this: If you have a vision for the Kingdom, and live a life of repentance, purity, showing mercy, and seeking peace, some people will speak evil of you and lie about you, and try to make you look stupid, naïve, or dangerous. We must not try to avoid such responses but let our light shine instead.

When persecution comes, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Persecution is proof that your faith is genuine. Rejoicing in persecution strengthens your faith by sharpening the focus of your life on the unseen things above, where Christ is seated in heavenly places, preparing a place for us with Him forever (Heb. 11.1; Col. 3.1-13; Jn. 14.1-4). We’re in good company when we undergo persecution, because the prophets of the Old Testament and the disciples of the New were persecuted, as have been many of our brothers and sisters throughout history and in our day.

Jesus points us to the eternal manifestation of His Kingdom (v. 12), beyond time into heaven and beyond, into the new heavens and new earth. The beatitudes set the theme and basic categories for life in the Kingdom. They are our essential marching orders while we remain here in time. 

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Jesus taught about the real Kingdom of God.
He did not whitewash it or make it seem easy.
He did not, nor does not, want His followers to be disappointed.
He wants us to expect the unexpected, and to be ready to experience the undesired.
He wants us to prepare our hearts, souls, minds, and strength to be His unabashed followers;
those unwilling to turn back on our promise to be faithful to Him to the very end (Ps. 119.112; Lk. 9.62).

The Scriptures give many examples of those who do the right thing in the difficult moment, and its effect on the persecutors. One situation involved David and King Saul, when he had an opportunity to kill Saul, and chose not to: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely?
Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day” (1 Sam. 24.17-19). 

And indeed, God did reward David. Saul was displaced as king, and David reigned in his place.

But there are other instances where the right thing was done by the people of God, and yet they came to very difficult ends: “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth” (Heb. 11.35-38).

Their blessed reward fully received in heaven— “the eternal manifestation of His Kingdom, 
beyond time…into the new heavens and new earth.”

Seeking Jesus and His Kingdom brings blessings all around—showers of them.
We just need to prepare ourselves to receive them in whatever form He chooses to bless us.
In times like these, our anchor will hold firm, if it is lodged in the Solid Rock—Jesus our Beloved Savior. 

In times like these you need a Savior, 
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these, O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I’m very sure, I’m very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One,
This Rock is Jesus, The only One;
Be very sure, be very sure,
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
(Ruth Caye Jones, 1944)

Reflect.
1. Do you expect to know persecution in your walk with the Lord? How should you prepare for this?

2. What are the main things to cling to when you are being persecuted?

3. How can you help Christians in other parts of the world who are being persecuted now?

Not only should we patiently endure all the horrible treacheries of the persecutors that can be contrived in a time of persecution for Christ’s name against the just, or the various reproaches that can be heaped upon us, or the punishments that can be applied to the body, but we should even welcome them with exultation because of the coming glory. Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 17.9.2-3

Pray Psalm 115.9-18.
In a time like this – indeed, at all times – we need to remember that God is sovereign, that He does all things well, works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, and that He works good through those who know Him to show His love to the world. Pray that He will use you thus today.

Sing Psalm 115.9-18.
Psalm 115.9-18 (Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
All who trust in Jesus yield—ever to His Name be glory— 
find in Him their help and shield—ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the LORD!  He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Blessings from our gracious LORD—ever to Your Name be glory—
will attend us evermore—ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, LORD, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Grant us, Savior, great increase—ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace—ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Men, check out our Spring Men’s Reading Groups. Great reads, sound learning, warm fellowship

Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast begins a series of readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter has begun a new series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church and why we need it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.