“…And I want you to see this, friends, the most painful parts of life are the most glorious opportunities to live out the kingdom ethics. And so for the Christian what can often happen is when we find ourselves in these circumstances, we can ask God, “Why am I being persecuted, why am I poor? Why am I hungry, why am I hurting, why am I suffering, why am I opposed, why am I struggling?” And the Father would say, “Blessed are you. That’s a blessing. I’m giving you an opportunity to experience a bit of what Jesus did. I’m giving you an opportunity to become a little more like Jesus is, and I’m giving you an opportunity to show others a little bit of who Jesus is.” It’s an opportunity.
Every situation really comes down to your view of God. If you believe God is a God of woe, and he’s always judging you, and he’s always angry at you, and he’s always cursing you, and he’s always consequenting you, then when tragedy, strife, grief, poverty, and pain come, you’re angry at God, you’re frustrated, you run from God, you’re depressed, you’re despairing. And if you believe Jesus’ words, “Blessed are you,” you rejoice in all circumstances, and you look for the opportunity to practice the kingdom ethic, and to become a better kingdom citizen.
So here’s the big idea: Jesus won’t make you rich, he won’t make you powerful, he won’t make you comfortable, he won’t make you famous, he won’t make everyone be nice to you, he won’t make all your troubles go away, and idolatry teaches that he will. You can use Jesus for fame, comfort, power, glory. You can use Jesus for health, and healing, and success, and prominence, and all it is is offering Jesus as the world’s greatest idol-giver, a means to an end. Or Jesus says, “Assume that your present circumstances are God’s blessing to you.” Assume that God is good. Assume that God is doing good. And some of you say, “But I have been abused.” That’s not your identity. Your identity is in Christ. You are loved by the Father. You’re a citizen of the kingdom, and if you get that, you can even bless those who abuse you. And if you don’t, you’ll become bitter, angry, hostile, selfish, self-righteous, judgmental, justified, woe are you, woe to you. See, Jesus is trying to save us from Satan, sin, death, and ourselves. Because when we are attacked by the world’s system and its ideology, the first inclination is to respond in a worldly way, rather than in a kingdom way.”
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/luke/the-beatitudes-part-1
