From here the Beatitudes switch from Characteristics preparing our hearts for God to Beatitudes of actions...the after effect of Christ in our lives…
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. The New Testament calls for believers to show mercy to others.
But look at the last verse 18:35 This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. Happy is the one who shows mercy because Christ will be merciful to him…. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Purity, this is almost a misnomer in today’s society. It is very difficult to find something that is pure. Milk, we think it is pure, but we have come to find that even some of the most trusted products contain some kind of additive no matter what the packaging states. To be pure means to be without mixture or unmixed. Purity of heart means to be unmixed. Motives...why we do things. Unmixed toward God. Are we living for God or for God and ourselves? Understanding wholly that all we do and all we believe in is God…is being unmixed! Questions to ask ourselves…
The Pharisees were men of God yet were their motives pure toward God? They were the men that pointed others to right living with God yet when Christ heard two prayers he took the one who was broken for God giving all that he had….not the perfect Pharisee. You see Christ knew that man was not supposed to be cleaned from the outside in …..no we are to be cleaned from the inside out by letting Christ into our hearts. For where are treasures are there are heart will be also. Do we treasure Christ? Heart disease is a billion dollars industry now….but spiritual heart disease is even more devastating. Living a life like we don’t need God is eternally condemning. Men think that they can have a changed heart by the environment, education, change in social status, money, etc. Yet Christ says that the outside doesn’t matter… It is Christ. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God Are you pure in heart for Christ! Totally reliant on Christ? Are your motives for Christ’s good or your good? Blessed are the peacemakers, for they be called sons of God In the Hebrew - shalom and this does not mean the absence of trouble…. Rather it means that you are trying everything to keep right relationships among men and women.The first peace is between God and man. If we will end our conflict with God then we can end our conflict with other men.And we can be peacemakers in our homes, communities, and churches.Happy is man that is a peacemaker, first with God and then with man for they will be called sons of God. How so.. Because when we seek peace with God we are adopted into his family….we are sons of God!Our conflict is at an end and we can be at peace...we can serve others with everything that we have in order that we right relationships with everyone. Finally, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. But even if you suffer for what is right, you are blessed...I Peter 4:14 This characteristic of believers is so important and so common that Christ mentions it twice… Continuing in verse 11...it is repeated and further detailed. So how are we blessed...we are blessed because we are in the kingdom...believers are with Christ no matter what … Even in the midst of adversity and turmoil. This is the hardest of all… Happiness exists for those that are broken, extremely saddened, mild hearted, for those that are searching for something more in life, the merciful, the pure hearted that are ostracized, and those that try to help everyone no matter what…..but now happiness exists for those that are put down, put out, trampled on because they love Jesus As believers, we inherit the kingdom of God, we inherit the ability to live with Jesus in eternity, but we also experience the evils and pitfalls of this world. We can feel the extreme pain and sorrow that everyone else can fill….but in our loyalty to Christ, we can have joy! Assurance that we are loved, Verse 12 Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven! Today! Choose to be with Christ. Choose to be loyal. Choose to be a man or woman of God. Choose the character of the believer. Choose happiness. Choose the joy that God gives you. The beatitudes are a pathway to God...follow that pathway and say yes! Choose Christ today. |