CrossTie 8 - Blessed are the Persecuted

The final Beatitude brings us back to the beginning. At the first, we sought God to relieve our pain. Now we are challenged by Jesus to leap for joy in the face of the pain of persecution. Where we once would do anything to avoid all suffering, we are now empowered to "Endure hardship as discipline." - Hebrews 12:7 - God uses suffering to further His redemptive purpose in us.