Beatitudes – 24 November 2008

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "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.”  Matthew 5:3-6 [NIV]

It struck me recently that the first half of the Beatitudes refers to people who know they need God.  The worldview that most people have is that you are blessed if you are doing well financially, socially, have high status in an organisation, are successful in sport and beautiful.  But like so many of Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom, it is the opposite of the view of the world.  Jesus says when you reach the end of yourself in your spirit, in your relationships, when you are humble and not lording it over others, and you are hungry for the things of God, it is then that you are blessed.  It is when we know our need of God and call on him, that he will come in and fill us.

In “My Utmost for His Highest”, Oswald Chambers said “The New Testament teaching about regeneration is that when a person is hit by his own sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit, and his personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God— ". . . until Christ is formed in you" (Galatians 4:19 ).”

Are you struggling at the moment? Then God says you will be blessed.

Do you want more of God?  I think we will be filled when we realise how much we need Him.