I was reading about the Beatitudes this week. (If you have never read the Message translation of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, I encourage you to check it out for a fresh perspective on a well-known passage.)
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."
Matthew 5:1-12 The Message
While reading a devotional about this passage, I came across the following prayer, it's honesty stopped me in my tracks:
"Lord, I want to be smart, popular and respected.
I want to be good looking, athletically built and stylishly dressed.
I want life to be good, work to be fulfilling and relationships to be fun.
I want to be happy and healthy and rich.
I want to have those things now and I want to hold on to them forever.
Amen.
Those are my beatitudes, Lord, if I am being honest with you. But if I am being honest with myself, I know that none of those things will make me happy. Not for long anyway. And certainly not forever.
When I put all those qualities together, I get a composite of someone in the movies or on the cover of a magazine. I get a celebrity. I don't get Christ. But Christ is what I want. In my hearts of hearts, he is what I really want to be like. His thoughts are what I want to think. His emotions are what I want to feel. His life is what I want to live. I want to be strong like him, wise like him, compassionate like him.
I want Jesus to be the person I model my life after...Help me to settle for nothing less." -Ken Gire, Moments with the Savior
Good words.
5 comments:
We studied the beatitudes. They are interesting. And definately something to think about.
I know why/who you posted this for. You just need to know...It was me (ok...so maybe not JUST me)! Thank you for faithful posting and blessings each day. :). The real awesome part for me is He used you all those years ago driving me to Books A Million from Gorgas Library to buy me this very special translation of Gods word (a gift like no other)! He still is using you, and His word...thru this translation to transform me and flat out speak to me while at the same time speaking to so many others! love you!!!
I have been reading-"lurking,ha!"- your blog for awhile, and just wanted to thank you for your real and personal posts. Although I am in a very differen phase of life (single, almost30:), there have been many times when I have been encouraged or challenged by something you have written. Thank you for sharing your journey with the LORD.
Thanks so much for this post. You don't know how timely this one is for me and for the high school girls I co-teach in Sunday School. God gave you this post and answered our prayers at the same time! He is awesome!
Thanks for sharing this. I have been asked to speak at a womens church brunch next Saturday and was up at 3am going over in my mind and heart what scripture I was going to use to base my talk on along with my testimoney. When I wake up and see this I had my AHA moment. I love the Message translation for the Beatitudes and now know what I scipture I can use. Shane loved the Beatitudes and actually used them in a sermon once so they have extra special meaning. Thanks for always writing from your heart and thanks for inspiring me. I soooo can't believe God is using me in this way, so not me. I'm blessed to know you and blessed to be able to read your insights.
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