Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

The eighth Beatitude, “Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” is a tough promise to trust.  

How can we live this Beatitude?  By trusting the One who made the promise.  Christ’s faithfulness makes us faithful. As we experience the power of His presence with the earlier Beatitudes, we are prepared to trust Him all the way.  Then when opposition comes, we are well positioned to endure and overcome.

Jesus’ pathway is called righteousness.  Standing for right is always the right place for us to stand.  Being with Jesus is the right place to be in all circumstances.  Commit to Christ and you will know the peace of Christ during life’s tender and tough moments.  The Christian lifestyle is the style which is always in fashion for every season.

John Oxenham was the poet, novelist, and hymnist who composed one of our most cherished hymns – “In Christ There is No East or West.”  One day Oxenham wrote – “We live as those who are on a journey home: a home we know that will have the lights on and the door open and our father waiting for us when we arrive.” That means in all adversity our worship of God is joyful, our life is hopeful, our future is secure.  There is nothing we can lose on earth that can rob us of the treasures God has given us and will give us.

Through faith, seasoned by experience, we know that no force can defeat God.  No force can keep us from getting to our eternal home.  No force can turn out the home lights God has turned on for us nor bar the door God has opened for us.

God forms the Beatitudes within us as we live in companionship with Him.  Weekly we have seen how through each attitude God offers us happiness, work, and a reward.  Each one is a promise to claim, a purpose to live, and a reward to receive.  The reward is not more of something but more of Someone. Being a companion with Christ is the adventure of all time.

Pastor Les Hollon

“It’s one thing to affirm that God is free to do as God wills in this world.  The real crunch comes in allowing God the freedom and trust to act in one’s own life.”
-John Indermark

This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.  For more information about trusting God, Trinity Baptist Church, or to contact Dr. Hollon, click over to Trinity Baptist Church.

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