|
At a cell group I
attended in April 2006 this topic arose and I thought it was a particularly
important one. I'm not the best Bible scholar, having only been a true Christian
for just over a year, so when passages like this come up which can really be related
to my own life I get pretty excited. And this one of perhaps all passages (aside
from the Two Commandments) is possibly the best one for learning how to become a
good Christian.
The Beatitudes (or, the "Beautiful Attitudes" as they were called in the cell
group I attended!) are a set of guidelines in Matthew 5 which Jesus told the
crowds during the Sermon on the Mount. The picture they paint is that of the
ideal Christian, and the meaning of striving to become one.
In my Bible (NLT) the passage reads;
|
"This is what he taught them:
God blesses those who realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly,
for the whole earth will belong to them.
God blesses those who are hungry and thirst for justice,
for they will receive it in full.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you
are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you
in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too."
Matthew 5:2-12
|
I really like this passage for so many reasons - rather than a list of direct
rules with no indication of meaning, they're presented as a list of God's
rewards for people who strive to follow them. It's a very encouraging passage.
It lists all the difficult things that we face as Christians, the things we
struggle to be, and gives us reason and support. Each of the Beatitudes are
important in their own right, and easy to relate to; for anyone following the
Christian life can see themselves or the person they are trying to be in them.
They're deeply personal in that way.
During the cell group we looked at several other passages which expanded on each
one of the Beatitudes in turn, and these are what I'm going to look at and
reflect on now, together with others I've found. Click the references to read
the passages (opens in a new window).
|
"The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.
A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise."
Psalm 51:17
|
It's apt that this is the first Beatitude, as it's arguably the most important.
A longing for God and to obey His commands should be at the centre of a
Christian life. After all, God is the best career advisor - He is the one who
knows your future, he knows what's best for you better than you do. It makes
sense to want God on your side.
We are by nature fallible and sinful, so we need God to be with us and guide us;
if we try to live life on our own terms, we'll fail - badly. God knows this - and
yet, He loves us and wants the best for us. If you come to Him broken and wanting
to repent, He'll take your sins away and you'll live with Him in your heart, free
of all suffering.
Other readings:
James 4:9-10,
Psalm 42:1-3,
Luke 6:46-49,
1 John 2:3-6
|
"To all who mourn in Israel, he
will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair.
For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory."
Isaiah 61:3
|
Going through a bereavement is one of the toughest things we will ever have to
do in our lifetimes. Death is a subject which scares everyone, not just
Christians; we will never know exactly what happens after death until we die
ourselves. Losing a loved one is made no easier by this. However, God knows what
it's like to lose someone and he lost him willingly; it was His own son. Yet, He
was willing to do this because He loved us just as much.
When you suffer, it tears your world apart; you feel so alone. But if you trust in
God, He'll comfort you, because He wants you to be happy. And when you die, He wants
you to be with Him. Suffering is something which brings us closer to God, because we
realize how much we need Him to comfort us.
Other readings:
Ecclesiastes 7:4,
Romans 6:23,
2 Corinthians 7:10
|
"You should be known for the
beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is so precious to God."
1 Peter 3:4
|
No one loves a person who shouts and boasts all the time. It's amazing, however,
how people will listen to someone who is gentle and humble. It's the sign that
tells the world that you are different; that you will treat others with respect
and love. Jesus was like that. He was so different that he caused a storm of
controversy and turned heads wherever He went - and people listened to what He
had to say.
As Christians, we should try to be more and more like Him every day - precious,
in God's eyes. A loud voice may carry so that many people will hear it; but it's
the careful word spoken quietly which spreads more effectively. Christians are
often stereotyped as those who love to yell and condemn others. People expect that
from you. If you are gentle and loving you will make a far bigger impression; and
your actions will speak volumes about He who sent you.
Other readings:
1 Corinthians 4:20-21,
2 Corinthians 10:1,
Psalm 18:35
|
"You have heard that the law of
Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a
tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it. But I say,
don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the
other, too."
Matthew 5:38-39
|
It is difficult to live in a world in which there is so much injustice. Even
within the church there are disagreements about how we should do things and
fallings out between people. As human beings, we all have opinions and like to
do things our own way. Not every way is the right way of course; and it is human
to feel angry at someone who has done something which you disagree with, or want
to fight back against someone who has wronged you. It is man's way. But it is
not God's way.
We are fallible creatures who have shaky and differential views
of right and wrong; and thus, the person we must look to for justice is God. He
cares when we suffer, when something bad happens to us He knows about it. As
Christians, we should trust in Him and His judgement, which is infallible. If we
thirst for His justice, we will be satisfied, because God is just.
Other readings:
Deuteronomy 32:4,
Psalm 58:11,
Isaiah 26:7
|
"Finally, all of you should be of
one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender
hearts and humble minds. Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people
say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is
what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it."
1 Peter 3:8-9
|
Because we are fallible, we do wrong to others. It's the sin inside of us which
does that, and it's our own selfish drives which let the sin overcome us.
Because we do this, we don't deserve mercy; we deserve judgement and punishment.
But God chose to be merciful towards us; He sent His son and because Jesus died
for us, we are forgiven. Any sin that is committed against us pales in comparison
to the sins we commit against God. If that is true, then the least thing we can
do to honour God is to learn to be merciful and forgive people who wrong us.
An action of love will always endear you to a person; if you bite
back, the hate only grows. Forgiveness is always the best policy. Think about
the stories you hear in the news about Christian families who have forgiven
those who killed their loved ones. People are surprised, because being merciful
goes against our selfish natures. They found the strength to do this because
they have God's mercy and forgiveness. And through them, God's mercy and
forgiveness touched everyone who read that article or saw that TV show. God's
love is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive - we need to share it.
Other readings:
Luke 6:37-42,
Colossians 3:12-13,
Nehemiah 9:17
|
"A good tree can't produce bad
fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by the kind
of fruit it produces. Figs never grow on thorn bushes or grapes on bramble
bushes. A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person
produces evil deeds from an evil heart. Whatever is in your heart determines
what you say."
Luke 6:43-45
|
When something is pure it is at its best. Water free of chemicals is the most
beneficial; earth free of clay grows the best plants, air free of pollutants
keeps us healthy. Our hearts can become cluttered with so many ungodly things -
possessions, which can't love us back; sinful pursuits, which will never satisfy
us. God gave us these hearts for one purpose; to love.
When we love, our hearts become pure. When we hate or love the wrong things, we
fail to see the path which God wants us to follow; and we drift away from Him.
And yet, our hearts cannot become pure by our own deeds; we need Jesus to wipe
them clean, to purify. If we listen to God and always choose love over hate, we
will learn to speak wisely; and only then will we become more like Jesus.
Other readings:
1 John 3:14,
1 John 2:9-11,
1 Peter 1:22
|
"Because of God's tender mercy,
the light of heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."
Luke 1:78-79
|
Peace is something that all of us seek constantly in our lives. If we lose it,
we are lost to darkness and despair; for the opposite of peace is war - and in
war, families are separated, lives are lost, whole countries are irreparably
damaged. This world is ravaged by war and the results of it are seen on the news
daily; there seems to be no end or cure for it. Indeed, it even exists among
Christians, when we argue and disagree with each other.
God wants us to live in harmony with one another, to support each other. Instilled
in each of us is the need to be with others; this is so we don't forget what a
wonderful thing it is to have peace and share it. There are few things more
enjoyable than spending time with friends; Jesus did it himself. With so much
strife around us it is difficult not to raise our own voices and become angry;
but this we must learn by His example. Once we do this, we will see God's peace in
our lives and in the lives of others.
Other readings:
Romans 14:19,
Zechariah 8:12,
James 3:18
|
"Dear friends, don't be surprised
at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were
happening to you. Instead, be very glad - because these trials will make you
partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful
joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world."
1 Peter 4:12-16
|
Persecution and discrimination is a terrible thing to witness; and almost
unbearable when it is directed towards you. But persecution is something born
out of fear and hate, and those feelings have no place in the hearts of those
who love God. We have a wonderful God - He loves us, He provides for us, He
cares about us, He died for us. But He also protects us, and you won't find a
better bodyguard anywhere. Nothing on earth is outside of his control, and we
are completely safe in His hands. When we trust in Him, we can do anything. Yet,
he chose to suffer for us; therefore, it is a great privilege to be able to
suffer with him and to learn to appreciate what it is we have been given in
Christ Jesus.
Suffering brings us closer to God; persecution imparts upon us a greater
understanding. If we put Jesus at the centre of our lives, He will make every
part radiant; and there is no greater satisfaction - other than that of
when Jesus returns to us, and that time is coming soon. If someone ridicules
you, remember these things and smile.
Other readings:
Luke 21:12-19,
2 Corinthians 12:10,
2 Thessalonians 1:3-5
|
