The Company We Keep

    Please turn to Matthew 5:1-12.  The Beatitudes appeared to turned the world of the disciples’ upside down.  What they thought--was contradicted as Jesus taught.  God’s view of life is different than ours.   

Pastor Charles Swindell said, “life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”  In this sermon Jesus is explaining how we are expected to live and how the behaviors we adopt lead to happiness.  These are the attitudes that should “be” the goals for Christian living.

     Poor in the spirit are blessed?  Yes, if we believe that we have the resources we need to make it through life, we won’t turn to God who is the source of all we need.  Read about JC Penney’s early life.  Those who humble themselves admit their fragile nature, repent, and permit the love of God to guide them to reformation.  We need to be comfortable in knowing that we need God.  

     In verse 4 we read blessed are the mournful. When we mourn we are in a state of deep sorrow, in addition to loved ones, we mourn sin, and violence and injustice.  In our mourning, we expose ourselves – broken and vulnerable by making ourselves available to God, comfort is provided. Rick Warren says, “You never know God is all you need until God is all you have.”   In our sorrow, we are transformed.

     Verse 5 speaks of the meek inheriting the land.  Meek is defined as gentle in spirit and mild in disposition.  Meek is not weak.  Meek people exhibit great strength and possess self-control reacting to situations in the will of God.  Happy are the meek because they find themselves content -- in a state of satisfaction, not concerned with how to acquire more or to control what’s not in their purview.  The meek do not seek revenge rather rely on God; confident in their joint heirship with Christ and His plan.        

     Verse 6 begs the question, what are you hungry and thirsty for? Do we hunger or thirst to be right in the eyes of God?  Do we thirst to behave morally, and hunger to have a right relationship with God?  Jesus explained that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness have a passion to do the will of God and in doing so would be satisfied.  With the same intensity as true hunger, we need to possess an and intense craving for God and desire to live with justice, integrity and correctness, which is God-honoring.   

    And church, we learn that happy are the merciful.  Consider this past week, where did you extend mercy?  Meditate on the Lord’s Prayer, “…forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…” Are we double-minded expecting something different for us than others?  We are extended grace and forgiveness and frankly we receive it freely.  However, how often do we find ourselves cheap in response?  We cannot allow anger, pride or bitterness to take a front-row seat to mercy.  

     Next Jesus says, “happy are the pure of heart.”  There is no hatred or jealousy in a pure heart.  That said, we are all a work in progress, including the disciples. We need to oppose hypocrisy and avoid the pollution that so quickly stains our hearts.  It’s a daily battle.  It’s a journey, a choice and shift of the heart…one unachievable this side of heaven, but one we work toward.   We need to seek God’s help, turning us from sin and approaching God with sincerity then pruned and transformed.   

      So, happy are the peacemakers.  As we read the headlines, one might declare that peacemakers are in short supply.  I urge you to pray for peace and be an active part of the peace process.  This plea will look different for each of us.  Bringing peace means creating opportunities for reconciliation, tearing down walls, ending conflict, removing division, and sometimes speaking out and sometimes not speaking whether it be in our community, in our homes or in our hearts.   Simple advice from Mother Theresa is, “Peace begins with a smile.  Smile five times a day at someone you really don’t want to smile at; do it for peace.”  This is a simple idea, a first step, but one we should all start with.

     Finally, blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.  Happy are the mistreated, those made to flee, harassed, abused, and insulted?  Yes, when it is for the sake of God.  Living a life honorable to God is a righteous life. We know this from history and of recent days.  All who suffer for Christ’s sake or endure persecution aligning with Christ’s example demonstrate true discipleship and will be secured a place in the kingdom.  Scripture says, “Christ also suffered for us, leaving an example, so that we might follow His footsteps” (1 Peter 2:21-25).  One might say, the Beatitudes is Jesus’ life story and an outline for us to follow.

     I wonder what Jesus might say to us today?  Blessed are those defending themselves in war.  Blessed are those who demand justice in biased situations.  Blessed are those who use their voice for ones without a voice.  Blessed are those standing in the gap for those who seem to have been forgotten.  Blessed are those who go to great lengths to care for God’s people and creation.  Blessed are… 

     Friends, we are at our best and blessed when we rest in Him. We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future! At times, the world does present upside down, but blessed are those who, no matter what, stand firmly pointing others to Jesus Christ.  And all God’s people say, amen!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Kerry   

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