The Beatitudes are thought to be some of the most important verses in Scripture. What was Jesus trying to tell us through them? What qualities of character does Jesus/God value most?
Jesus says:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven....
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth."
What does it mean to be "poor in spirit" and "meek." I believe it means to be humble. If someone was rich in spirit they might be a bit arrogant, a bit too sure of themselves.
Paul says in Rom. 12, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
We are to think of ourselves with "sober judgement."
I believe pride is the root of ALL SIN. Therefore humility is the key to living a righteous life. If we are humble or "poor in spirit" we will inherit "the kingdom of heaven." If we are "meek" we will "inherit the earth." But don't we inherit the kingdom of heaven simply by believing in our hearts that Jesus is Lord? Ah, there is the rub. For if we are not bearing fruit can we really know that we are saved.
James 2 says:
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."
We have to bear fruit to know for sure that we are saved. Salvation is not just about "praying the prayer." Our whole life should be transformed. We should FEEL and THINK like a new creation! :)
We are not saved BY our works, but you can tell IF you are saved by the fruit of your life. Do you have love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness etc? Do you love the Lord with your whole heart soul and mind and others as yourself? If so, then you can be sure you are saved.
Paul says in 2 Thes. "With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith."
We are to walk in a manner "worthy" of our calling. Being "poor in spirit" will enable us to do this. We need to be humble and that includes loving others as we love ourselves and loving God with all that we are and submitting to Him.
"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted."
Solomon says in Ecc. 7:
"It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting....
3 Frustration is better than laughter,
because a sad face is good for the heart."
Therefore, we are blessed we mourn, as mourning increases our wisdom. "Growth is not found on the hill tops but in the valleys." It is in our pain that God can best shape us and mold us. That is when we are most pliable and flexible to his leading. That is when we are most desperate for Him.
Jesus also promises to comfort us in our mourning. Psalm 34 say, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
God IS with us in our pain. He hasn't gone anywhere. Many times, He actually comes closer to us in our pain. I know this because since Roger died 2 months ago I have never felt closer to God. I have never felt that I can hear him more clearly. It is pretty amazing. :)
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled."
We show that we hunger and thirst for "righteousness" the more that we read and meditate on God's word.
David says in Psalm 119,
"Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies."
Do we LOVE God's law? We should, do we? If we are truly seeking God and wanting to follow Him, we WILL find him. "Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door shall be opened unto you." If we ask for wisdom to help us live a more righteous life, God WILL give it to us.
"Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy."
Jesus says in Mt. 7, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
He also says in Luke 6, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
As much as we show mercy to others, we will be shown that much mercy. As much as you respect others, they will respect you that much. If people are not respecting you, ask yourself the question, "Am I respecting them?" Probably not. So look at yourself first, before you try to change people around you.
Gandhi said, "He who would change the world must first start with changing himself." Amen? Let us look at ourselves before we look at what others are doing wrong. :)
"Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God."
If we not pure, but corrupt, we will not see God.
Jesus says in Mt. 5, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
We have to be right with those around us before we can see God, or be close to God. Many times people notice that their prayers seem to be blocked. It might be because they have anger or resentment in their hearts.
In James it says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God."
Satan wants to divide us and dis-unify us. But God wants us to keep the peace and be peacemakers. If we are children of God we will seek to make peace with everyone around us.
Paul says in 2 Cor. 5, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God."
We are given the message of reconciliation to the world; God wants to reconcile men to himself and men to each other. God sent Jesus to bring peace to the world. Are we peacemakers or war starters? Think about it.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus said in Luke 6, "Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."
If we are truly following God, som people probably won't like us. If we are really genuine and open about our faith. There were many people who hated Jesus.
This one is hard for me, as I generally like to be liked. But may God help me with this. :)
May God bless you all this week! May he increase your wisdom more and more! Be blessed!
-Lisa
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