The Beatitudes

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:2-12 ESV)

The Beatitudes, the most famous sermon given by Christ, provides a roadmap to the Christian life. Christ discerns between those who have and those who have not, and for those who have not, what awaits them in heaven, for those who have, how to appropriately use those blessings.

Now, there is nothing that says Christians must be poor, homeless, and starving. To the contrary, it tells us what Christians who are stable in their lives should do with the abundance God has provided them. The Beatitudes force us to look at our reflection in the mirror, and when we do, we ask ourselves, “Am I these things?”

Do you recognize your flawed spiritual nature and that you must rely on God? Spiritual poverty, as mentioned in the Beatitudes, is not about material wealth, but about recognizing your sinful nature, that you cannot save yourself from your sins, and in turn, you humbly rely on God. Blessed are those who place their faith in the Lord, who makes one righteous before God.

In your mourning, your sadness, and in your despair, do you turn to God? Do you cling to Christ in your times of grief, finding comfort in the grace and mercy found in the Lord? Blessed are those who recognize and seek the comfort of the Lord.

Are you meek? In this case, Christ is not talking about being weak, frail, or fearful; instead, He speaks of being gentle and submissive to God’s will. Meekness is characterized by humility and an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. Do you prioritize your wants and desires in light of God? Blessed are those whose life is centered on the Lord.

Is your thirst for things of this world, or are you hungry and thirsty for righteousness?  Is every sin devastating for you? Do you repent of your sins and ask the Lord and the Holy Spirit to move you away from them? Do you ask them to give you strength and help you advance in your spiritual growth and sanctification? Do you pray for God’s grace and mercy, knowing you are lost in sin without Christ? Blessed are those who are determined to seek the path of righteousness.

Are you merciful with those who have wronged you? Do you live your life with compassion, passing on the grace Christ has given you, or are you holding on to grudges and anger instead of forgiveness and mercy? Do you remember the mercy and grace the Lord has given you? Blessed are those who share the grace and mercy of the Lord with others.

Is your heart pure or still hardened? Does the blood of the Savior flow through your veins? Are you completely devoted to God, or is there deceit in your words, or are you scheming for your next advancement in life? Are you internally pure or externally deceptive in false Christianity? Blessed are those whose heart of stone has been replaced with flesh and credit not themselves but Christ with their transformation.

Is the peace of Christ in you, or does anger flow through you? Do you seek confrontation when challenged? Are you the first to charge into an argument, or are you the one who resolves through love and teaching? Do you work to help others find a peaceful answer, a mutually beneficial compromise? Blessed are those through whom the peace of the Lord flows to others.

As a Christian, do you worry what people will do to you if you speak of the gospel, or do you openly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you hide your Christianity behind a curtain? Do you tell others of the salvation available to them through faith in the Lord and the repentance of sins, or are you afraid of the consequences of being Christian in a world ruled by the enemy? Blessed are the bold in faith who fear nothing in the name of the Lord.

Do you sidestep your faith in front of others who despise it? Will you do everything not to have to confront those who mock you for your Christianity? Are there times you leave a situation because you have been called out because of your faith, and are afraid something may happen to you? Blessed are those who bear the mockery, anger, and deliberate personal attacks because of their faith in Christ.

Look in the mirror and take a personal inventory of your life. Compare what you see against the Beatitudes. Where are you in comparison? Do you know Christ as your Savior? Have you repented of your sins before an all-holy God? If you do know Christ, how do you compare to what Christ preached on the mount?

If you do not know Jesus Christ, what are you waiting for? A personal invitation? You have just received it. Come to the Lord, do not walk away from Him again.

Grace and Peace!