Matthew 5:10 "Persecution Provoking Commitment"

"You are blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."

I have highlighted and deleted the section below this point about 5 different times today. For some reason this scripture is hard for me to talk about. I actually sat down to start this blog today at 9:30am.

Then I took a break. (and pressed delete)

I switched my music inspiration from my itunes self created playlist "Country songs that are in my head" to another self created playlist "Amanda's Top 14 Christian Favorites" thinking that would get my inspirational writing juices flowing.

Fail.

I took a long driving lunch to get a change of scenery so I can really center myself on persecution. (while listing to "Everything" by Tim Hughes).

Nothing.

I then sat down a bit ago and started to write a bunch of fluff.. just to say i finished this blog today.

Highlight - Delete.

Currently I am trying to think of why it is so hard for me to write about Persecution.

I am lucky enough not to suffer persecution.

Maybe I am making this scripture too complicated.

Maybe the focus on this scripture should be less on the persecution that happens as a result of your God commitment and more on the actions you make to provoke the persecution.

Maybe I should be asking myself "How is your God-commitment provoking persecution?"
Maybe I don't experience persecution because my God-commitment is not strong enough to provoke persecution.
Maybe the persecution I am experiencing is coming from other things that are buying for my commitment with God.

Maybe the "I don't want to's", the "I am so angry's", and the "I would rather's" are my self inflicted persecution.

Maybe persecution has more to do with commitment than you and I would like to believe.
Maybe the reason why I don't feel like I have been persecuted against... is because I am not doing anything that is persecution worthy. My commitment is not on the radar. My commitment is not challenging.

Does your God- Commitment provoke persecution?

There really is not a right way to wrap up this devotional with a nice bow today.

Maybe there is a reason why I needed to marinate on this scripture today.

Maybe this will be continued in my thoughts, prayers, and actions.

If persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom... then I need to challenge myself to have a persecution provoking commitment to God.