The Point Of Empowerment

Sentiment may tell us that being persecuted is the same as being a victim or even a martyr, but according to this beatitude in Matt.5:10, persecution for righteousness’ sake actually marks the point of empowerment, where the blessings of the Kingdom (that is, the power of His order and unlimited resources) open to us.  This scripture tells us we have the option to see persecution defensively or offensively, as victimization or empowerment. Spending our life pressing toward the mark and taking a righteous ground,  will involve persecution in the process, but persecution is not a goal, and God certainly never intended us to develop a victim’s  expectation  that draws it.

(This is an excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.)