I really wish that Jesus had stopped with peace making and skipped the next part. The whole "persecuted" thing would be nice to skip. I would just as soon avoid the pain and suffering part of discipleship. But Jesus did not skip the suffering. Jesus did not promise that you and I would not have suffering. In fact, suffering is the very thing that helps put into perspective the other beatitudes.
Consider the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:3-4, "We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope."
In II Timothy 2:12 Paul says, "If we endure, we will reign with Him."
These verses are not isolated, nor is the concept incongruent with common sense. Remember the story about the caterpillar that made a cocoon - a child decided to help the emerging butterfly avoid the struggle of getting out of the cocoon and cut it open. The butterfly came out of the cocoon but without enough strength to fly. Struggling makes us stronger. In my humanness, I wish that were not true, but because it is true, I have to declare that I prefer the consequences of adversity far better than the consequences of prosperity.
This is my prayer, "Lord, I want to be spiritually strong enough to do whatever You want me to do, regardless of the consequences." I am willing to suffer for His sake.
Even as I write that, I realize that I have no real idea of what I am saying. I haven't suffered. I am not suffering now. I only have a faint idea of what suffering really is. The Apostle Paul new what he was talking about. For now, most of us will have to take his word for it.
