“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12)
Rejoice? No one enjoys being rejected. Leap for joy? That isn’t a normal reaction to pain. How can Jesus possibly say something so apparently absurd?
Jesus probably doesn’t expect His disciples actually to enjoy being insulted and hated – it isn’t a pleasant feeling, even when we’re sure our principles are worth it. He knows that. He does, however, expect His followers to see the bigger picture. He wants us to view the entire landscape and know that the rejections that come with wholehearted following Him are simply low-lying hill in the foreground. How they appear is a matter of where we stand.
Those who suffer willingly are standing in an eternal perspective. They have put away their misguided ambition of creating their heaven on earth. And have embraced the Kingdom of Jesus now, and His coming Kingdom. They can be content with temporary trials because their eyes are open to the eternal panorama.
Those who rebel against their suffering, however, are still hoping too much in the here and now. Somewhere deep inside they had expected a better deal in this life and not yet invested their hopes in God’s Kingdom. They had an agenda for this life that didn’t fit well with His.
Jesus’ instruction to rejoice is not just for those who are being persecuted now. His instruction prepares us for any trial by pointing us to eternal realities. Is God’s Kingdom the place of our hopes and dreams? If so, we will not only tolerate being rejected by the world, but we will see it as happy confirmation that we are, in fact, in union with Jesus. In a very real sense, it will be an occasion to Jump For Joy.
Have a happy weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who see the big picture and who know for certain the best is yet to come.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 