The Beatitudes

The late Rich Mullins once told me he considered this scripture to be the condensed version of everything Jesus taught.  Yet most of its concepts are so foreign to us today, even in the church.  Our culture is not fond of the meek, the merciful or the peacemakers.  We certainly don't understand being persecuted for Jesus' sake.  Read this a few times.  Soak in it.  Commit these verses to memory.  Only when you begin to understand how out-of-step Jesus was (and IS) with society will you begin to feel the foolishness and holiness of all He was trying to teach us. Only then will you begin to understand why He would go to the cross for us.  Only then can we understand where that kind of love comes from...

Questions to ponder on this Sabbath morning:
1)  Our society tells us we should be powerful, in charge and famous.  What does this text have to say about all of that?
2)  Does our culture value mercy?  Can mercy be separated from forgiveness?
3)  We are told that the pure in heart shall see God.  What does it mean to be pure in heart?  What does it mean to see God?


It has been said that Jesus came to "afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted."  No where in scripture is this stated more eloquently than in the Beatitudes.  This is scripture we should all fall in love with.  Have a blessed day!


Because of Jesus,