“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Christ gives a qualification here. Facing persecution for the sake of your ideology or your pet theological position or political activism or even because of a simple foolish decision—facing persecution for the sake of such things does not bring blessing in and of itself. It is only those persecuted for righteousness sake that are blessed. This reality ought to cause us to step back and think. Remember, Peter warns Christians, “Let none of you suffer as an evildoer (1 Peter 4:15).
Many are deceived in this regard. Many believe they are on the “right side of history,” that their cause is righteous, that they even have God on their side. And in their self-deception, they believe that any persecution or pushback, is a sign of this fact.
So, how do we know? How do we know that it is truly “for righteousness’ sake” that we suffer, that we face persecution?
The great Puritan Thomas Watson says that the “man who would suffer ‘for righteousness sake’ must himself be righteous.” And he gives three tests for how we might know that we are righteous and prepared to suffer for righteousness’ sake.
[1] A righteous person breathes after holiness. Do you desire and delight in holiness? Do you long for purity of mind and soul? Do you daily trample on the bellies of your lusts and put to death the misdeeds of your body that you might present yourself holy to God?
[2] A righteous person is one who makes God’s grace his center. Can you say together with Paul that you are willing to suffer the loss of all things and count them as refuse if only you could gain Christ and be found in him? —That you might know him and the power of his resurrection, and share in his sufferings? Is Christ more valuable to you than all this world has to offer?
[3] A righteous person is one who values the jewel of a good conscience at a high rate. What value do you place on having a good or clean conscience? Does unconfessed sin eat away at your soul? Do you feel the heavy hand of God upon you when you are slow to confess? Do you value having nothing on your mind hindering your fellowship with God and neighbor?
Are you ready to suffer persecution for righteousness sake? Are you prepared to face the fiery trials that await all true followers of Christ?
Let us not be deceived. Let us look to our inheritance, an eternal kingdom for our own possession as coheirs with Christ and resolve today that we would be a righteous people—that we might be counted worthy to suffer for the sake of righteousness.
Zach Wilke – June 23, 2024
