Not of this world

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  ~ Matthew 5:4
As I read this verse today, for I'm sure the umpteenth time, I was struck again by how it epitomizes the counter-cultural, flesh-defying life we are called to, yes, invited into, in the Kingdom of God. Think about it: Jesus is saying that people who grieve are blessed. What? Why? Because they will be comforted. Hmm. That must be some pretty sweet comfort, if we can consider even a state of mourning to be blessing. Indeed, it is blessing, if it means we get to experience "the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort" comforting us in our trials and afflictions (2 Corinthians 1).

The Word is replete with other invitations to experience fullness of joy in the Kingdom in ways that the world considers topsy-turvy. Consider the apostles who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Jesus (Acts). Consider Paul who could rejoice in his weaknesses so that Christ's power might rest upon him (2 Corinthians 12). Consider the rest of Matthew 5, such as the reminder that being hungry and thirsty for righteousness is good…we will know satisfaction of those desires! Or 1 Peter calling us to rejoice in our trials, that our faith might be refined purer than gold, and that we might endure til we see Jesus face to face! Yet another is Paul's exhortation that we might encounter tribulation, danger, nakedness, sword, even death, and yet none of these can separate us from God's love. In other words, as long as we've got His love, we're good to go...no need to sweat the rest of it!

All around me, and I'm sure all around you, are people who live without the blessing of Kingdom perspective. The human perspective is often and loudly touted here: "God's ways are so difficult." (Jesus says, "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.") "Fasting is such suffering." (Man doesn't live by bread alone, right?)  "Kids are a nuisance with no manners." (Jesus said that the Kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are child-like.)

Sometimes its so easy to nod and smile, or say the appropriate response in agreement with statements like these. Yet I don't want to do that. I want to boldly proclaim the glories of a Kingdom that turns the world upside down, the paradoxical way of life that is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. May that Spirit open our mouths to proclaim this mystery over and over and over.