One of the most beautiful sermons that Jesus ever preached is called the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon is recorded for us in Matthew chapters five through seven. A particularly beautiful section of the Sermon on the Mount is called the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes all begin with the word "blessed." Blessed means joyful. The Beatitudes portray a picture of the attitudes which need to be in the heart and life of a believer. These attitudes are also a source of joy which the world can not comprehend. The world thinks happiness comes from power, position, or material gain. The Beatitudes point out that true joy comes only from the Lord and from serving Him. The Beatitudes show us that true joy comes from showing Christ-like attitudes in our lives. These are attitudes which are also pleasing to the Lord.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3) Joyful are those who know they are sinners and who know they need Jesus for their salvation and well-being. Those who are poor in spirit do not imagine themselves to be spiritually self-sufficient. They know they deserve nothing except hell, and they know they are hopeless and helpless without the Lord. Those who are poor in spirit have recognized their own insufficiency and have cast themselves on the the Lord and His all-sufficiency. In Christ they have found everything they need for time and eternity. Hence, they are spiritually rich and "theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4) Joyful are those people who are deeply sorry and sad about their sins. Joyful are those who turn from their sins and run to the Lord for forgiveness. To those people God will bring His forgiveness, comfort, and joy!
Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) Joyful are those who see how holy and righteous and worthy God is in His character. Hence, they are humble and meek before the the Lord. Meek people are not proud. They are humble, because they know God is holy. They also know they are sinful in themselves. Meek people do not want their own selfish way, but they desire to follow God's will for their lives. Meek people are willing to be taught and corrected by the Lord, so they can better live for God's glory. Meek people are also gentle and patient in their relationships with others. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is being strong with God's help and under His control.
Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) Joyful are they who continually and fervently desire God's way in their lives. They fervently want and desire to become more and more like Jesus in their characters. They have a deep desire in their hearts to serve Jesus in all they do. Those who deeply desire righteousness in their lives "will be filled." God will wash away their sins. God will also help them to grow spiritually and to become more and more like Jesus every day. Those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" will find their joy in pleasing the Lord and not in other things.
Joyful are those who recognize their sins and mourn over their sins. Such people when they run to the Lord in repentance for their sins will find His forgiveness, joy, and comfort. Joyful are those who forget about themselves and are filled with an earnest desire to and please the Lord. Such people will be filled with God's joy and peace.
(We will continue with our study of the Beatitudes in my next post.)
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