A foundational truth of the
Kingdom lifestyle: it is to be a blessed life. Jesus reveals to us that this
lifestyle answers the longing of the heart of man: to be blessed, happy and
content. In the first nine verses of the Sermon On The Mount, The Beatitudes,
Jesus presents a spiritual mindset that is counter to that of natural mankind
and the world. The blessed lifestyle of the Kingdom is a product of His nature
or character being formed in us. The radicalness of the Kingdom is: this
blessed state does not come as the world says it will, but in a changed way of
thinking and living.
Blessed Is a Product of Character
Jesus explains the source of this
blessed life is a product of a certain kind of character. He tells us blessed
people are:
· the poor in spirit
·
the ones that mourn
· the meek
These are antagonistic to our
modern mindset. Our world says go get it, do what ever it takes to achieve. It
is a dog eat dog world, don't let anyone walk on you. Society is full of
successful people with money, power and influence. Yet many are miserable,
lonely, lacking peace and joy. Challenging them to give up what they are told
will bring happiness is a foreign idea to them.
So how does this seemingly
incorrect view produce happiness or a blessed life? The answer is seeing
ourselves from God's perspective. A realistic view of our state, allows us to
see God for who and what He is. Then we will see our need for Him, allowing Him
to transform our paradigms and us.
Let's unpack what Jesus is saying
about this character that is the foundation for a blessed life.
Poor in Spirit
"Blessed
are the poor in spirit...." Matthew 5:3
The blessed life is based on being realistic.
What is poor in spirit? Being
realistic about our situation, recognizing our spiritual inability and
inadequacy. Have you ever been in a meeting or event and you knew that you were
out of your league? How did that make you feel: inadequate! Realizing my
inadequacy is grasping I do not measure up to God nor his expectations. Isaiah
realized this when he saw God. His response was woe is me, a man of unclean
lips among unclean people! He saw himself for what he was.
The poor in spirit not only
recognize their inadequacy, but also their inability. Not only do we not
measure up, we do not have the ability to change our current condition. Due to
our fallen nature, we are completely devoid of spiritual ability to change our
inadequacy.
The world's mentality is to "pull
yourself up by the boot straps!" It is to do more or work harder, make
something of yourself, or get more things and we will change our status.
Unfortunately, many have shown, it does not produce a blessed life.
Outside of Jesus we are poverty
stricken in spirit and will never find spiritual fulfillment outside of Him. I
must come to the place that I admit my own spiritual weakness: That I cannot
enter the Kingdom of my own abilities or worth. When I come to the realization
I am not only unable, but I don't have it in me, then I realize my relationship
to him. I become poor in spirit - not proud, vain, egotistical or
self-sufficient.
Jesus said it is this individual
that would have the Kingdom! The poor in spirit acknowledge and live out their
dependency on the King.
Mourn
"Blessed
are they that mourn...." Matthew
5:4
Blessed is being repentant. For those who recognize their spiritual
poverty, the natural response is lamenting or mourning of their condition. This
produces repentance. Repentance comes from deep within the soul when we realize
all the Lord has for us and how little we have actualized in our lives. Truly
seeing our in ability and inadequacy causes us to fall before God and repent.
It is the repentant person who
will find a comfort and nearness of Jesus. The word comforted here means to be
summoned up close and encouraged! Those that repent - Lord calls near to him
and comforts them!
Meekness
"Blessed
are the meek....." Matthew 5:5
By now, I am sure you can see the
progression of character transformation. The recognition of spiritual poverty
and repentance produces an attitude of meekness.
In our society today, meekness
seems to be associated with weakness. In a dog eat dog world, you have to be
tough. You cannot let your weaknesses be seen. But the kingdom is different.
Meekness in the kingdom is being
humble or gentle. Because we realize our inability, we trust and accept the
Lord's plan and dealings for our lives. Because we have seen him, we see from a
Kingdom vantage and yield to His ways. It actually takes a certain amount of strength
to admit how much I need God and to submit to his ways!
It is to the meek, gentle or
humble that Jesus promised an inheritance. Could it be that it is because of
the character transformation that Jesus feels they can be trusted with
resources? Just a thought.
If we summarize these three
verses we see some idea of the blessed life based on a character
transformation.
·
It is the poor in spirit who receive the
Kingdom.
·
Those who mourn are the ones He calls near.
·
Those who are meek have an inheritance.
If we admit total inability and
inadequacy. If we confess this and yield
ourselves to God. He will be our
comfort, giving us the Kingdom and incomparable riches
Transformed Actions
The process of character
transformation does not end here. Continuing with the next three verses we see
that the development of this spiritual character results in a transformation of
our ambitions, attitude and actions.
Ambition
"Blessed
are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness...." Matthew 5:6
Hungering and thirsting describes
a type of ambition. A more common question posed may be "How bad do you want
it?" It is a question of how much we desire something, implying what will I do
to achieve it.
Ambition is normal, without it we
are lazy and non-productive. The question: "Is it proper ambition?" The
ambition of the world is for pleasure, resulting from our power of control or the
accumulation of things. It is placing ourselves in the position of attempting
to be like God, determining what is right and wrong for our lives. Lucifer
sought this when he tried to exalt himself like God. It was the same lie he
told Eve in the garden! Worldly ambition is man's attempt to put himself in the
place of God.
Ambition is all right, but we
must hunger and thirst for the right things. Kingdom ambition is different: it
is based on the knowledge of our spiritual condition and Jesus is the only source
of fulfillment. It is a desire and ambition for what He has for us, for this
will be the "right" things for us. Things of the world will pass away, but the
things of God are eternal.
Attitude
"Blessed
are the merciful...." Matthew 5:7
This process of character
development starts with a recognition of our condition and results in a change
of our attitude and actions.
This new spiritual character will
result in an attitude of mercy or compassion. The poor in spirit, mournful and
meek have a different attitude. Understanding our weakness, allows us to
understand and relate to others in their struggles and failures.
Living life from this perspective
allows us to have compassion. We can turn the other cheek, give up the coat and
cloak or suffer reproach. Because we understand, that is what we are, outside
of the grace of God! Understanding my weakness, then I can understand others.
In short, I will have a greater concern for others than myself!
Action
"Blessed
are the pure in heart...." Matthew 5:8
Our actions or behaviors are
changed as we see the ultimate progression of this character transformation. As
we see our spiritual poverty, it causes us to mourn our condition and in
meekness submit to God. From this perspective, the focus of my ambitions
changes along with my attitude towards God, myself and others. This new mindset
is revealed as my actions are propagated from a heart of purity.
Good or bad, our actions are
based on the motives and intent of our hearts. I am sure we have all
interactions with people that caused us to question their motives. In the
world's system, many are encouraged to do for others only if you think you can
gain some benefit from it. A simple example is many business-networking events.
I have participated in these and most of the interactions are overshadowed by
an intense "get some business" attitude. Very few actually seek to establish
relationships and get to know one another beyond a source of business.
In the Kingdom lifestyle, our
actions should be based on a pure heart.
Pure in this context means
something that is clean or unmixed. It is the end product when the impurities
have been purged away. This is exactly what happens as we progress through this
character transformation, becoming more like our King. It is at this place, our
actions are based on integrity and sincerity. There is no deception or using of
others for our gain: no ulterior motives, because we are operating from a
changed spiritual character.
A Spiritual Transformation
This process of character
development is initiated with our new birth and the values of the Kingdom are
birthed in our lives. It is a spiritual transformation as we allow His
indwelling spirit to teach and guide us. It can be challenging: sometimes it is
not a pretty sight when we see ourselves for what we really are (apart from
Him.) It requires a continual honesty: it seems, that sometimes just when we
think we have arrived, He graciously points out another area! Yet in this,
there is still hope being presented. Those that are searching have come, not to
expect perfection in demonstration, but a sincere searching and honest
evaluation and progression. So, even in our continual attempt to walk out our
journey, we demonstrate His transforming grace. It is in this process, we will
find the "blessed" life that genuinely reveals the nature of or heavenly
Father! This becomes attractive to the hungry around us!
Martin Schmaltz
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