Good morning Lord Jesus, cleanse me this morning to be a vessel of your use throughout today.
“When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”
(Matthew 5:1-9)
I was blessed to perform the wedding this weekend of two friends I love. During their ceremony I read the passage from Matthew called “The Beatitudes” above over them.
The word beatitude comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The beatitudes introduce and set the tone for Jesus' Sermon on the Mount by emphasizing the humble state of humans and the righteousness of God. Each beatitude depicts the ideal heart condition of a citizen of God's kingdom. In this idyllic state, the believer experiences abundant spiritual blessings.
The phrase "blessed are" in each beatitude implies a current state of happiness or well-being. This expression held a powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of Christ's day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are those who possess these inward qualities." While speaking of a current "blessedness," each pronouncement also promised a future reward.
For us in Christ today, these verse are the still the key to finding and living a life of divine joy and perfect happiness.
Blessed (divinely happy and fortunate) are the parents and children and the family who are peacemakers for joy will fill their house.
Blessed is the husband or wife and will be their marriage, if they are poor in spirit, humble, and serve each other.
Blessed is the boss, manager, worker, and co-worker that is pure in heart, for respect and dignity will be in their place of work.
Blessed is the neighbor, citizen who is merciful and generous towards people they know are suffering and struggling, for their acts of kindness will being a happiness to their soul placed their by God.
Blessed is the man or woman who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, for men and woman who are disciples of and madly in love with Jesus and their spouse needs, their children need, their grandchildren need, their world needs.
Blessed are we when we mourn the state of others and act on it, for to mourn others, you first have to love others, and to act on that love for them is acting like Jesus.
Jesus tells us latter in the this sermon from the mount, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
My family, I pray you are blessed today, Jesus wants to bless you today. I pray you experience the divine happiness, fortune and joy that is available to you today. Jesus’ saving works on the cross made the possibility of you experiencing them, everyday of your life, possible by His saving works on the cross. Jesus’ life exemplified all the beatitudes listed above. I pray you will seek, knock, and align your life with Jesus’ life, for if you do, you will open the door to receive all blessings including a life of joy, peace, hope, and happiness, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using the comment box below.
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
