I am a Jesus pusher!!! Paul used the term tribulation to describe persecution (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4). Persecution is one form of tribulation that God permits and for which Jesus calls us “Blessed” (Matthew 5:10). This word comes from the Latin word “tribulum.” It describes a threshing sledge or flail. This is a threshing instrument consisting of a staff with a short heavy stick dangling on the end. The farmer would use the flail to beat and bruise the sheaves. This enabled him to separate the golden grain from the chaff and straw. Persecution is a picture of God’s threshing instrument in our lives. His purpose is not to destroy us, but to separate what is good, heavenly, and spiritual within us from what is wrong, earthly, and fleshly. It will take the blows of adversity and persecution to accomplish this.
This is the final desire of the relationship. He embraces us in our helplessness and the Kingdom of Heaven is established. We respond by mourning and experience the Comforter in the embrace. His nature of meekness gives us a new relationship to our physical world. We are filled only to hunger and thirst for more. We live in a state of mercy, purity of heart, and peace as we rest in His embrace. The purpose for all of this is to reveal His person through us. He allows persecution for the final refining of His image in our lives. Jesus is allowed to see Himself in us and others see His reflection through our lives. I am a Jesus pusher!!!