I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matthew 5:10). The cause of persecution is “righteousness.” Consider the “cause within the cause.” If the cause of persecution is a state of righteousness then the ones who persecute are those who are not righteous. Obviously the righteous ones are not doing whatever is contained within persecution. As we walk through the Beatitudes, we see the evidence of this. The destitute embrace the unlimited resource of Jesus and can do nothing but love. Those who are filled with the Comforter can do nothing but extend comfort. The meek ones extend concern and care. Those filled proclaim the location of fullness. Those dwelling in a state of mercy and purity share mercy and righteousness. The spirit of persecution is not the spirit of the kingdom of heaven! Therefore if you are a persecutor, you are not in the Kingdom.
Do you find the “conflict of the cause” perplexing? Why does someone who lives out the essence of these Beatitudes irritate others? If you are someone who loves and cares, why are you hated? Why is it that people do not like righteousness? Solomon wrote, “And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked” (Proverbs 29:27). We must understand what is already stated in the previous studies. It is the “consistency of the cause.” The verb is in the perfect tense. This places persecution in the first Beatitude and carries it through to the last. Persecution is present from start to finish. Persecution is inevitable in a merger with Jesus. What a privilege to be a Jesus pusher!!!