Blessed Are The Persecuted

One doesn't get out of bed in the morning and look for ways to be persecuted, or do they?

This morning I have been reading from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Should I live this day so radically in Jesus, that as my light shines for Jesus, Satan will try and quelch the Light reflected from me?

Came across this qoute from Clarence Jordan, Sermon on the Mount:

"One wonders why Christians today get off so easily. Is it because unchristian Americans are that much better than unchristian Romans, or is our light so dim that the tormentor can not see it? What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?"

That last question - "What are the things we do that are worth persecuting?" that has captured my thoughts. I'm not sure that I am so excited about persecution, in fact, I know that I'm not. I have looked less globally at this verse, and rationalized that it only for those God has chosen to be persecuted. Moments later I realize that God has a more universal application for this verse.

Today, I want my light for Jesus to shine so bright, that I tick Satan off so much by my efforts through Christ for the sake of the Kingdom, that the evil one sends someone my way to shut me up - to quelch my light. Not guaranteed that I will this day be persecuted -- but I am sure gonna give the evil one cause to try!

For King and Kingdom!