THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: APPLICATION

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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 filled.
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 children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)


The Beatitudes are Jesus’ teachings of how he wants us to live—a life modeled after him—having Jesus’ heart (mourning for the human condition, being meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted).

The Beatitudes are about understanding at a soul level that we are unworthy of the God’s love, grace and mercy. It’s about living with gratitude because God loves us anyway, grants us grace anyway. Is merciful to us anyway. Even though—especially since—we don’t deserve it.

The Beatitudes are about submission to God; being humbled; knowing that we are insignificant in the grand scheme of things; but God loves us anyway.

The Beatitudes are about being merciful to others because God is merciful to us.

The Beatitudes are about living like Christ in all things, no matter how difficult; no matter how opposed it is to our personal nature; no matter, no matter.

Jesus never promised life would be easy when we followed him. In fact, he specifically said it would be hard. But there are rewards. Blessings. Given freely, not as brownie points but because we have a God who loves us unconditionally and blesses us abundantly, smiling on us when we turn our hearts to Him and when we become like Him in the tiniest way.

The application of the Beatitudes, is to follow Jesus’ example. Jesus temporarily set aside his divinity and became human. We must set aside our humanity—our sinful inclinations and worldly ways of thinking. We must recognize that nothing we can do on our own will save us. Only God can do that. And when we accept that truth and live accordingly, we are blessed.

We just need that "can do" attitude; that "to be" attitude.

 
PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for your example of living and for preserving for us some of your precious sermons. Thank you for making us teachable and for revealing truths to us through your parables and teachings. Help us apply your truths in a way that points others to you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Which of the Beatitudes spoke loudest to you? Why?

　

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-11)

　
We look at the early Christian martyrs and marvel at their courage and faith. But many Christians today are martyred for their faith—many statistics say that in this century more have been martyred than in the first 20 centuries of Christianity combined.

In many countries today it is against the law to be a Christian.

In this country we profess to have freedom of religion, but in reality, more and more Christians feel apologetic about their faith. Not apologetic as in C.S. Lewis’s argument for the faith; but feeling that they cannot declare their faith to others without feeling like they are somehow offending them.

• Children are not allowed to pray at school.
• Nativity scenes are not allowed at public buildings.
• The Ten Commandments are removed from courthouses.
• The phrase "Evangelical Christian" when spoke in politics is said with a sneer.

The suffering of Christians is not about being punished for evil or unlawful acts. The suffering and persecution Jesus spoke of was being punished for being righteous.

Have you ever known someone who lashes out against a friend for doing good? Not because the friend did good but because doing good shows the rest of us up for who we really are—falling short of our duty, our ideals, what we know to be right and good.

People who are righteous show others up. Sometimes the unrighteous hate the righteous because the righteous illuminate their own dark hearts and show the world who they really are.

When believers try to live a righteous life, they become distinguished from the rest of the world. The world may misinterpret our conduct and view us as feeling as if we are above them; better than they are; hoity-toity.

To many people, sin is fun. It is associated with pleasure, living life on the edge, it’s all fine as long as it’s between consenting adults. The Holy Spirit has the power to convict people, but if we sin, we don’t want to be convicted. We may secretly feel guilty and so we lash out at people who struggle not to sin—making fun of their struggle, encouraging them to give up, cheering when they fail and fall back into sin.

Blaming others is always easier than accepting responsibility and doing what is right. Blaming Christians, making fun of them, persecuting them feels good and distracts attention away from the ungodly for a moment.

A sinner fights against God. He can’t get back at God so he does the next best thing—he attacks those who follow God.

Jesus told us that if we follow him, we will be persecuted.

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  (John 15:20)

Jesus came to Earth and lived as a human so that he could show us an example of how to live. If we truly desire to follow him, we desire to be like him and live like him. We don’t always succeed, but we try. When we do, he tells us—promises us—that we will be persecuted.

So what if you do not feel like you are being persecuted? Could it be that you are just one of the lucky few?

Or are you perhaps not living as righteous a life as God wishes?

Or perhaps you are not letting God’s light shine so brightly through you that the world even knows that you are a Christian.

Fortunately when we are persecuted, we are not alone. Not only do we have the companionship of other believers to support and encourage us, we also have the strength of the Holy Spirit living in us. And the strength of Jesus that enables us to do all things.

And each time we are persecuted and survive, we become stronger and more assured in our faith. Each time God delivers us, we trust Him more.

And when we are persecuted we understand:

• The strength of our faith.
• Our faith is worthy of our suffering.
• We have been chosen by God.
• We are children of God.
• Our salvation is sure.
• We are truly not of this world even though we are in this world.
• We are in good company.
• Ours is the kingdom of heaven.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you Jesus for your example of living. We do so want to live a life worthy of your sacrifice. We want to be more Christ-like in everything we do, say and are. Please help us stand firm and in righteousness, even amid persecution. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you sometimes feel persecuted for Jesus’ sake?

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: THE PURE IN HEART

This is the sixth Beatitude:


Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)




  



 
That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within the man, and they defile the man. (Mark 7:20-23)


The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9)

How can we be pure in our hearts when they are filled with filth and sin? How can we be pure in our imaginations, in our thoughts, in our words, in our decision making, and in our desires? How can we think what God thinks, will what God wills, desire what God desires, hate what God hates, and love what God loves?

We know that God looks at the heart rather than at our appearance, behavior or achievements. We do not need education, business success, social position to please God. How then can our hearts be pure?

We can't do any of these things on our own. We can't clean ourselves through self-denial or self help. The path to a pure heart begins with the understanding that our hearts are evil.


God must clean us. The pure in heart are free from evil desires and evil purposes. God has a plan to save us and make us holy in thought, word and deed. That plan is stated in Romans 8:29, that we are "to conform us to the image and likeness of His Son."

God's plan is to make us like his own Son, like Jesus Christ. His purpose is nothing less than that we be pure in heart just like Jesus Christ is.

How does God clean us? When we surrender ourselves to Jesus and put our trust in him, God will then give us a new nature and we become a new creation.

Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

As a new person, we can walk arm and arm with Jesus Christ on a road toward spiritual purity because:

 

It is no longer I that live, but it is Christ that is living in union with me. (Galatians 2:20)

This Beatitude tells us if we are pure in heart then we will see God. Not only will we see God as we pass into heaven, but we will see God right now spiritually. The pure in heart will see God’s glory in everything.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for cleaning us up and giving us a pure heart. Please Holy Spirit, guide our lives and keep our hearts sparkling clean and pure like Jesus’. Please help us see your glory, Father, in all things. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have a technique or reminder to keep your focus continually on Jesus?

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

The third Beatitude is Matthew 5:5:

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.



Meek. Yeah. That’s about Jesus turning the other cheek, right?

No. Turning the other cheek is about forgiveness.

Then meek is about us being gentle all the time, like Jesus was, right?

Jesus at the temple with whips? Jesus wasn’t always gentle.

Then what does it mean? Why does Jesus want us to be weak and timid?

He doesn’t.
　

BEING MEEK

Contrary to the way the word meek is used in the modern world, a meek person in scripture is humble. He is kind during adversity. He has self control. He is obedient to God.

A person who is meek is overcome by God’s greatness and counts his own life as nothing. He has good will toward man and reverent obedience to God

Moses was meek:

Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:3)

　
God prized Moses. He was meek but he was strong. God gave Moses stewardship over the 10 Commandments. God allowed Moses to stand in His presence. God handpicked Moses to lead His people out of bondage to the very riverbank of their deliverance.

Meek does not mean weak.

The Greek word for meek, is praus. It referred to strong, domesticated animals such as a horse or ox that are disciplined to be used by man.

Similarly, the word meek used in Matthew 5:5 refers to a strong person who is disciplined, under obedience to God and can be used by God. She is controlled in her thinking, speaking, will and action.

A person who is meek has strength. He has the strength to not submit to his own will or to the world’s will. He submits only to the will of the all-powerful, mighty, gracious and loving God of the universe.

A meek person is bold. She speaks with confidence about Jesus and what he has done in her life. Her faith is strong. She trusts in her savior who is mighty in the world and mighty against Satan.

We become meek because we see God in everything. It immediately humbles us. We do not say, "I can do all things." Rather we say, "I can do all things through Christ." (Phillippians 4:13)

We see that God is big and we are little. We submit to God’s will in all things.

　

WHY DO THE MEEK INHERIT THE EARTH?

After all, shouldn’t we prefer to inherit heaven?

Well, we do. And we will. But think about how Jesus taught. Many biblical scholars believe "the earth" here in Matthew referred to the Promised Land. Not the Promised Land of the Jews wandering through the desert; but the eternal Promised Land of heaven that we souls seek as we wander through the spiritual desert on planet Earth.

Other scholars believe "the earth" refers to the restored earth in the messianic age. That day when Jesus returns. When we have that second heaven and second earth. (Revelation 21)

Modern society makes us feel like the wicked are rewarded here on earth. But Jesus assures us that He will be victorious over evil. He wins. And if we are on his team; a member of his army—we win, too.

But part of Jesus’ teaching is that we have to "inherit" the earth. As meek folk, we would never aggressively seize it as our personal prize. Instead, the meek will inherit the earth (heaven or New Earth) as a legacy. As children of God.

How cool is that?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please make us meek. Please remind us how undeserving we are and how great and mighty you are. Thank you for your promised blessing that we will inherit your kingdom as your adopted children. We love you so. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Have you found any different interpretations of inheriting the earth? What makes the most sense to you?