Jesus, Joy, & The Beatitudes

For anyone struggling with joy in their Christian walk, wandering in an indecisive fog of ambiguous moral objectives, Jesus' words in the famed sermon on the mount provide intense clarity and purpose.

Two things are worth noting before diving in.

First, the word "blessed" (consecrated, favored, appointed, praised, highly esteemed) as Jesus applies it means to have found the Lord’s favor through humble dedication to His Word, His Will, and His promises.  Those who are "blessed" are those who walk in good moral standing with God: He has called them out of darkness and they have responded with delighted obedience.

Also, those whom Jesus proclaims “blessed” are individuals who are producing fruit (Gal 5.22ff).  The Spirit-inspired characteristics that Paul outlines in Galatians are virtually synonymous with the eight qualities Jesus identifies in Matthew 5.  That means that those who possess true joy are disciples who, naturally and without pretense, evidence God’s redemptive and transforming work in their lives.  Furthermore, the joy they have found is the satisfaction in and pursuit of Christ alone.  He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14.6); He's the all-nourishing Bread of Life (John 6.35) and the all-sustaining Living Water (John 4.14, 7.38); He is the Treasure in the Field, worth sacrificing everything else to obtain (Matt 13.44).

We often lose our joy by becoming distracted with the world's priorities: relationships, self-esteem, entertainment, status, even philanthropy.  When we chase personal happiness via any of these avenues, we seek the wrong Grail.  And paradoxically, the more we pursue it, the more elusive it becomes.

Singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham captured it well in spoken word: "Christ is what Christ offers."

Christ doesn't offer wealth, health, or happiness.  He offers Himself.  He is my reward, not earthly contentment.  True contentment follows as a result of knowing Him.  It can't be my objective.

If you struggle with joy in your Christian walk, consider these qualities that Christ values in His followers.  Evaluate them from new angles.  Which do you need to dedicate or re-dedicate yourself to pursuing?

Ultimately, remember that joy is the byproduct of discovering and cherishing the person and grace of Jesus Christ.

~*~

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5.3; Luke 6.20)

• To be poor in spirit is to be emptied of self in order to be filled with Jesus Christ
• Being contentedly poor is the willingness to sacrifice worldly wealth and status for the sake of storing up treasure in heaven -- maintaining an eternal perspective (Matt 6.20).
• The poor in spirit equate wealth on a different scale than material things.  Grace redefines wealth by changing the currency.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt 5.4; Luke 6.21)

• Those who mourn are those who endure tragedy in this life with a focus on eternity.
• Those who mourn are those who maintain a somber sense of the severity of wickedness and a purpose-driven sense of stewardship.
• Those who mourn are those who are deeply grieved by their sin and the sin of the world, mourning for the grief it brings a holy God. (see 2 Cor 7.10)

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matt 5.5)

• The meek are characterized by humility and gentleness, and who lack a sense of entitlement.
• The meek are those who are submissive to God, His Word, and His rod.
• Meekness ≠ timidity, weakness, inferiority; meekness = power under control

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matt 5.6; Luke 6.21)

• Those who are burdened for the plight of the innocent (helpless) (Isa 1.17; Mic 6.8)
• Those who hunger a). are satisfied with nothing this world offers, finding fulfillment only in God Himself, and b). who insatiably pursue more of Him (Psa 84.10).

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matt 5.7)

• The merciful forgive as they are forgiven and give generously to those in need.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matt 5.8)

• Those who seek to crucify even the small, "white-collar" sins that exist within (i.e. pride, irritability, lust, self-pity, racial arrogance, anger, jealousy, etc), and yearn to devote mind and soul and body to God.
• "Seeing" God connotes knowing Him with spiritual intimacy now (Psa 17.15), and longing to literally see Him one day, face-to-face.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Matt 5.9)

• Someone who merely “keeps the peace” is the person who diffuses difficult situations (reactive); peacemakers are those who seek to bring and maintain a spirit of peace and unity before the difficult situations arise (proactive).
• To make peace is to abhor unnecessary conflict and violence, to subject the right to self-defense to the requirement to love and forgive our enemies (Matt 5.44).
• To make peace is to willingly overlook offenses committed against you rather than hold grudges (Prov 19.11) -- that is, not pretending wrong wasn't done, but being willing to forgive instead of seek justice on our own behalf (that's God's role, not ours -- Rom 12.19).

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5.10-12; Luke 6.22-23)

• Those who are willing to deeply inconvenience themselves for Christ’s sake.
• Those who proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven to the world, even to the point of death.
• Those who are committed to confronting sins in other believers, even if the one confronted might end the friendship out of selfish pride.
• Those who are committed to living "politically incorrect" lives at the expense of their own reputation.  This practice is not done in a vindictive, holier-than-thou crusade, but by a humble commitment to pursuing righteousness before the eyes of men (1 Pet 2.12), and by a gracious, tempered, educated method of sharing gospel truth with the world (Col 4.6).