The last Beatitude may be the most difficult one to embrace:
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
This Beatitude assures us we will be tried and tested. This is the test of maturity for the flesh seeks the path of least resistance. Paul understood this and wrote in Romans 8:
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
In our last Bible study, I emphasized the fact that you must change your mind, you must change direction, you must repent. It is your decision and as a man thinks, so is he. If you live according to the flesh, you will “reap” the flesh- death and destruction, thus to be carnally minded is death. If you are Spiritually minded, life and peace will result. Those living in the flesh will persecute you… misery loves company. The carnal mind is enmity against Our Heavenly Father and as we walk according to HIS specific direction, we too will experience hostility from those circumstances brought forth by the carnally-minded men. Just as Jesus was not subject to their devices, we too will not be subject to those attempts designed to divert us from the path of righteousness. James 4:4 emphasizes the point:
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
You cannot have one foot in the world and the other foot in the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s your choice. Once you choose the Kingdom of Heaven, persecution will come, both internal and external. Your carnal man will “persecute” you in an attempt to gain control over your life. When you are no longer moved by the circumstances, adversaries, and challenges, you will experience a true liberation. You will “know that you know”- the Truth has set you free. Our Heavenly Father is found everywhere, HE is omnipresent. HE is even in the persecutions. If you run from the persecutions, you cannot experience the fullness of righteousness. How can you become mature without testing? Muscles must be stressed to grow stronger. Persecution in this passage is really about surviving and overcoming the suffering or hardship. It is about dying to “self”. It is the culmination of your being set free. When persecution comes, and it will, overcome it. After all, the Sons of GOD are known as Overcomers.