Laura Ingle

Key scripture, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:3-9).

In the Beatitudes, which are what todays Key scripture is called, God promises a special blessing, a sacred delight. The Beatitudes describe God’s radical reconstruction of the heart.

Pastor, Max Lucado tells us to observe the sequence in the Beatitudes. We recognize we are in need–we’re poor in spirit. Next, we repent of our self-sufficiency–we mourn. We quit calling the shots–we’re meek. We are so grateful for his presence that we yearn for more–we hunger and thirst. We forgive others–we’re merciful. We change our outlook–we’re pure in heart. We love others–we’re peacemakers. We endure injustice–we’re persecuted.

The world’s way of thinking is just the opposite, it is upside down when you compare it to Jesus’ way of thinking in the Beatitudes.

The world says, “Blessed are the confident and capable”; Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”.

The world says, “Blessed are the happy”; Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn”.

The world says, “Blessed are those who push to the top”; Jesus says, “Blessed are the gentle”.

The world says, “Blessed are those who pursue physical pleasure any way they can get it”; Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”.

The world says, “Blessed are those who get back at those who have wronged them”; Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful”.

The world says, “Blessed is the person who gets away with deception”; Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart”.

The world says, “Blessed is the person who gets his own way”; Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers”.

The Beatitudes are no casual shift of attitude. It is a demolition of the old and a creation of the new. The more radical the change, the greater the joy, and it is worth every effort, for this is the joy of God! A special blessing….a sacred delight.

What about your thinking? Is it more like the world or like Jesus?
Pray this – My Precious Heavenly Father, I do not want to think like the world because the world cannot not give me peace, joy and comfort. The world cannot save my soul. The world cannot give me eternal life. The world cannot guide me in the ways of righteousness. The world cannot love me. The world cannot show me how to walk upright and blameless. The world cannot protect and provide for me. I want You to destroy my old way of thinking and replace it with everyone of the Beatitudes. I want to experience the sacred delight that only comes from Your Word and obeying it. I want Your favor, grace, and blessings to be poured out on me. I want You to radically reconstruct my heart so that the Beatitudes describe me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.