I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12). Jesus proposes a second reason for rejoicing in the midst of persecution. It is FOR THE SECURITY OF HEAVEN. Our eyesight must never be for the present moment. Every circumstance of the present moment must be viewed in light of eternity. Self-sourcing always focuses on our present comfort. Evangelical Christians have no dispute with the concept of “rewards.” But their perspective becomes one of endure, tolerate, count to ten, or white-knuckle it through in order to obtain the opposite in heaven. In heaven we will experience everything we think we do not have here. I am convinced this is not the reward of the Spirit-sourced individual. His reward is Jesus. In the embrace of His heart I experience a unique relationship with Him that no one else has had or can have. Persecution seems to be a part of the uniqueness. I experience Him not only in the superficial blessings of physical benefits, but I experience Him in the depth of His suffering nature. Intimacy is amazingly tight when two individuals share their hearts. Jesus allows me into His cross, the expression of His heart! Embracing His heart is the reward I desire.
The intimacy of relationship with Jesus gives me the strength and tone of rejoicing and being exceedingly glad.” The core of rejoicing is “joy.” This is not as strong as the emphasis of “be exceedingly glad.” This is a compound Greek word, which means “much” and “to leap.” This combined with “joy” places our response on the highest level. If my celebration is on this level, my intimacy with Jesus must be beyond description. Any suffering called persecution becomes a minor irritation. I am a Jesus pusher!!!