BEATITUDE # 9

Welcome to Mondays with a Mission!

Obedience – to comply with an order or a law – to submit.

As a parent, grandparent, caregiver – we are in a constant struggle when we have a toddler or a teenager who is determined to have their own way, even though we know it can be detrimental to them in one way or another.

It is not a natural human response – to obey – especially when we want to do something different.

We are all selfish, we want it our way.

Think about it – from the toddler stage – to attend school –  manage through teenager stage – date – our first job – marriage and family – a career and possibly to lead others – we must obey certain rules and laws to succeed in whatever we try to accomplish.

Which means we often go against our first inclination of selfish desires,

To stomp out those selfish desires and follow Christ – “we must pick up our cross daily”.

Jesus requires self-denial, obedience, and 100% dedication to living a life for Him.

To live a true Christian life is living for Christ everyday – NOT jumping back and forth between the world and Jesus depending on our selfish desires.

Busy blessed Women’s website explains it like this –

No wonder we still rebel at times! It requires tamping down our ego and putting God’s purposes, will, and thoughts in its place.

Jesus tells us we have to deny ourselves and take up our cross, but it’s not something that’s forced onto your shoulders.

https://busyblessedwomen.com/take-up-your-cross/

So, the last Beatitude – Matthew – 5:11-12

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.

This is a true combination of obedience, picking up your cross daily for Christ, and embracing the difficulty which we may suffer through because of our obedience.

Just as a toddler or a teenager can make a decision which can be detrimental to themselves and we as the adult must take action,

Christ has taken the action when He died on the cross for us – wow – He knew we needed Him and then He gave us the Holy Spirit to live within us.

God loves us so much He understands the pressures, and decisions which can make our life difficult.

But He wants us to have JOY! 

So how do we not get bogged down with the thoughts of being persecuted, yelled at, scoffed at, rude remarks made, friends and family turning away, – all because we have made the decision to follow Christ?

We, yes – we can have a joy that no one, absolutely no one, can take away.

When the evil comes our way because of our stand with Jesus Christ and we stand boldly, firmly, completely consumed with the knowledge that our deepest joy is found when we do all to glorify God – well – it is then we can rejoice with inexpressible joy because we have shown the character of our faith!

1 Peter 1:6-9

This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

 Each day as we pick up our cross and make the decision to be obedient the Holy Spirit will be right with us to guide us and comfort us, bring us peace and joy as we work to bring God glory in all we do.

SO – Put on your armor –

carry your cross with strong compassion and obedience –

Put on joy, love, and service to others – all the things that Jesus did and taught the disciples to do –

AND know that our hope is in God and as we follow Him during times of suffering and evil that can be brought against us –

OUR REWARD will be everlasting with HIM!

Thank You, God, for giving us Your Word, The Truth, the guide to everlasting JOY!  Thank You for teaching us how to be strong when we are persecuted by evil and the world.  In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen