8 ways to God’s blessings

MATTHEW 5:1-12: THE BATITUDES

People work their entire lives, struggling for the good life, to realize that the road is a dead end. When one travels down the broad road of modern life, they work diligently to avoid discomfort. There is no shortage of distractions available to keep you from experiencing true inner peace. It’s uncomfortable to be only in the presence of yourself. Yet, in that discomfort, transformation happens, and blessings are received. It is the narrow and treacherous road of discipleship that guides one to the blessings of God.

If you are tired of working your tail off and seeing no results, look no further than Matthew 5. Jesus promises us that when we seek him, we will find him, and he will lighten our burden[i]. Matthew 5 is one of the most studied pieces of literature in all history and is famously known as the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are poetic as they teeter back and forth between a state of being and the promised blessing. Each challenges our way of thinking, as those who are blessed do not appear to be much of a blessing. To be poor or to mourn does not feel like a blessing, but God assures us that His way of doing things will always challenge our human nature.

Christ just defeated the devil in the wilderness, and the first thing he does is teach his closest followers the way of discipleship. A disciple is someone who follows and imitates the life of a teacher. In this case, their teacher is Jesus, and they recognize Him as God on earth. These disciples have consciously chosen to dedicate their lives to following Jesus. Now their teacher is informing them of the new life they will live because of this choice. The Beatitudes sum up their entire Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in chapters 5-7 of the Book of Matthew. In these eight blessings, people can understand what it means to follow Christ and how their lives will change. The first four involve one’s relationship with God; the following four depict one's relationship with the world. God’s people are not called to a life of isolation but one of community. Discipleship happens in fellowship. That is why we meet every Tuesday for the.CONNECT. Disciples make disciples; iron sharpens iron. If you want to grow in community with other disciples, join us this Tuesday!

Let’s explore each of the Beatitudes in detail to understand what Christ was saying, those many years ago, and how they apply to our lives today.

Here are the eight ways to receive God’s blessings.

…the poor in spirit

The poor in spirit are humble. They know the struggles of life and recognize that they are not in control. They do not have what it takes to heal. The poor in spirit are open to receiving God’s grace and submitting to His will. Humility is the catalyst for faith; without it, all that’s left is decaying flesh. The humble recognize they are not a body with a soul, but a soul with a body, and that soul will live for eternity – hopefully in the presence of God.

…those who mourn

The mournful see the sorrow of this world and mourn. They feel for the oppressed, the broken, and the deceased. They see the stark difference between life and death and recognize that souls live on past their earthly existence. The mournful are present with those suffering and provide aid where they can. God provides comfort to those in need. This does not mean that challenges, pain, or suffering are removed from their lives. Instead, it means that Christ provides comfort and strength amid that suffering.

…the meek

Do not mistake meekness for weakness. The meek are strong yet reserved. They recognize their strength and choose to withhold it. The meek know the power of their words and use them intentionally. To be meek means to have power yet not use it unless absolutely necessary.

…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Hunger and thirst are two of the most basic human needs. To hunger and thirst for righteousness means to make righteousness a basic function of one’s life. People who desire goodness more than anything else in this world structure their lives around it. They starve for God’s grace and love.

…the merciful

God gives mercy. All are sinners who deserve punishment and death. Yet, God shows mercy and breathes new life into His disciples. To receive this mercy, the disciple then gives mercy to others. They forgive just as they have been forgiven. What they receive from God, they live out in their life. They are the light of the world and cannot be hidden.

…the pure in heart

Only God is truly pure. He gave us His only son, a spotless lamb, to be offered as a sacrifice for all. Disciples model their love after this perfect person. As they grow in their faith, their hearts are purified. All blemishes begin to wash away. The sin that was once there is no longer a stronghold. The pure in heart live like Jesus.

…the peacemakers

Disciples keep peace where peace can be made. They understand that people are quick-tempered and try to resolve issues respectfully and peacefully. This does not mean they allow others to walk on or abuse them; rather, they diffuse the situation. Peter learned this the hard way when he cut off the ear of the soldier arresting Jesus. Jesus rebuked his actions and healed the man’s ear[ii]. A lesson is to be learned here: think twice before drawing the sword.

…those who are persecuted because of righteousness

Persecution is inevitable when following Jesus. There is no way around it. The Gospel is offensive to those with hardened hearts. The disciple who endures and perseveres through the persecution is blessed. Rather than escaping a difficult situation, the disciple remains strong in faith and pushes through. Righteousness comes with a cost that the disciple is willing to pay. That cost is everything, and they find that it was well worth the deal in the end. 

Do you want the blessings of God?

If you are tired of trying to live this life on your own and wish to receive God's blessings, place your faith in Christ and see a true transformation of your heart. Each of us has something missing, a feeling of discomfort that no matter how much we try to get rid of it, that feeling remains. This feeling is a God sized hole in our hearts. It’s a hole the shape of a cross and is only filled when one believes that Jesus died, bore our sins, and rose again to defeat sin and death. Christ will fill that whole, and a disciple of Jesus will dedicate their lives to Him and remain in His presence. They will turn away from their old ways of living and seek Him only.

Welcome to Discipleship 101. Let’s get to work!

Stay tuned for content on Discipleship to Jesus. This article is part of our Disciplship 101: Matthew 5-7 Series. For more in this series head to the.STUDY.

Stay salty!

[i] Matthew 7:7-8 and Matthew 11:28-30

[ii] John 18:10-11