Remix on the Beatitudes

A few weeks ago at Middle School Fuse, we learned about repentance and the promises of the Beatitudes. During the message, we discussed what the Beatitudes really mean, and I began to truly understand them for the first time. I thought I would share what God further showed me as I meditated on the discussions at Fuse...

The Beatitudes are found in Matthew 5, from Jesus’ sermon on the Mount. This was the first time Jesus had preached, and the goal of his message was to change the way his audience viewed God.

The world has a very specific idea of Christianity. Most churches make the congregation feel as though they need to have their crap together to enter the doors. Many people feel Christians are fake and hypocritical because of the false front they put up. This screams to outsiders that you have to be perfect to encounter God. From the outside of church walls, people feel like they aren’t good enough for God, that they aren’t accepted.

But that’s not what Jesus says.

Matthew 5:3-12
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way”

Let’s break that down because, if you’re like me, that’s a lot of words and a lot to take in.

A blessing is a favor or gift bestowed by God that brings happiness. It is the receiving of God’s favor.

These verses are considered the Beatitudes, which means supreme blessedness and exalted happiness.

So if you relate to these characteristics, you have received a blessing from God. great happiness. his favor. wow .

Let’s read that in the BUV (Belton’s Understanding Version)

The world says being poor is bad. God blesses the poor though. The poor are happy because they get to experience the Lord being their all in all!
People may feel alone in their mourning, but God blesses those who mourn. Jesus mourned. They are happy because they get to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit!
The world makes less of gentle, humble people, but God blesses those who live in humility. They are happy because they know the Lord sees them.
Desperation is looked down upon, but God blesses those who are thirsty and yearning for more of him. They are happy because the more they seek, the more they find.
The enemy wants you to hold onto bitterness and be unforgiving, but God blesses the merciful. They are happy because they get to forgive like Jesus forgave them.
Purity. It can be lonely & it can be looked down on. But God blesses those who are pure. They are happy because they get to cling to God’s protection and promises. He satisfies their every longing.
The world is loud and noisy; people love bickering and making much of themselves. But God blesses those who bring about peace. They are happy because they are full of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
You will be persecuted. God doesn’t promise that life will be easy, but he promises to bless you in your suffering. You are happy because you are loving him in the truest way, laying your life down for his name.

Because of God’s love, we are…

Poor yet happy
Mourning yet happy
Gentle yet happy
Thirsty yet happy
Merciful yet happy
Pure yet happy
Peace-giving yet happy
Persecuted yet happy

Embrace these things that the world may call ugly, shameful, or inferior. Work on the ones you haven’t been experiencing. Do you need to be more peace-bringing (less argumentative)? More merciful? Purer in thought or action? Gentler?

Change how you look at others whose lives look like this!! Don’t encourage worldly outlooks on things — God blesses these things! We should want them more instead of despising them!!

God has been teaching me how to be happy despite being desperate. He’s been grooming me to be gentler, quieter, kinder. He’s asking me to be more open despite fear of rejection/ persecution. Because in these things I get more of him, more blessing, more happiness. I become more him and less myself.

I want to be blessed. I want to be full. I want to be like Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t wealthy, Jesus mourned, Jesus was incredibly gentle and tender hearted, Jesus sought after God, Jesus showed the greatest mercy, Jesus was pure in action and intention, Jesus brought peace, Jesus was persecuted.
Jesus was blessed.

Make me like Jesus, Lord!!! My heart is an open space …come and have your way!

I’m praying that instead of seeing Christianity as being perfect in order to receive blessing that you see it as being broken then blessed by God and therefore perfected by him.

When we open up our hearts to the Lord and show him our vulnerable spots, he blesses us and fills us, making us happy despite the wounds. He understands; he’s been there.

If you need to talk, please reach out! I wanna hear what God has been doing in your life!

You are loved by me and the King of the Universe!

Currently listening to…