32 Days until Easter

32 Days until Easter

Turn your phones off selfie mode and gather ‘round.  I could hear Jesus saying something like that if He were here in the flesh today to preach the Sermon on the Mount.  And I’m sure that things would get uncomfortable.  Quick like. 

What better way to prepare my heart for Easter, than to climb the mountain and join the crowds to hear the words from Jesus Himself; to examine my own life to recognize if I’m living out the Word authentically.  So sitting here with a laptop in hand to take my notes regarding His spoken words and Scripture opened to Matthew, I’m surely uncomfortable too.  Why?  Because this sermon doesn’t just address the things about me that the world sees, it addresses my heart.  The things deep within me that no one else sees.

The sermon begins by going over the Beatitudes.  Basically, He makes declarations of blessedness that are life changing if lived out.  They aren’t just commands to be good and kind, the Beatitudes call us to be like Christ through the help of the Holy Spirit. Christ is so much more than just good.  He is holy.   

“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 meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed  are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:3-6

To a world where self love is most important, the first four Beatitudes might seem backwards.  When I went to Pinterest to look at inspirational quotes for girls, these were the first to pop up:
   
  • “your biggest commitment must always be to yourself”- Bridgett Devoue
  • “Be enough for yourself first.  The rest of the world can wait.” -fw
  • “Dependence on something other than your heart to make you happy kills your soul.”
As I scrolled through looking at the “inspirational quotes”, I certainly didn’t find
  • “Be poor in spirit”
  • “Mourn”
  • “Be meek”
  • “Hunger and thirst for righteousness”

The power to be seen and heard, with influence over the masses and acknowledgment for our successes and appreciated for our ideas, actions and contributions; those are the things most of us strive for.  What the world might view as weak, God sees as virtuous.  An image of someone who is spiritually bankrupt and mourning and hungry isn’t the image of someone most of us inspire to be.  But when I look in the mirror, I should absolutely see someone who is poor in spirit, who is meek, who mourns, who hungers for righteousness.  And unfortunately, that’s not always what’s reflected in the mirror.
But then there are more than just four Beatitudes that I must consider.  

“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.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account.” -Matthew 5:7-11

As I inspect my heart as it aligns to the Beatitudes, I see how it should be, not how it is.  So although this is only the beginning of His sermon, I’m going to break here.  I need to take a moment to be silent.  Reevaluate and adjust.  I need to recognize that my depleted soul needs to be filled with the Spirit and refilled continually.  Do I bear the burdens of others?  Am I broken?  Do I grieve?  And what about me is meek?  I can get assertive.  I like to prove myself instead of responding with gentleness.  Do I earnestly yearn to do what is honorable before God?  Do I feel the suffering of others?  Is my first reaction forgiveness, mercy and grace?  Do I keep my body, soul and mind pure of the things that are unpleasing to my Heavenly Father?  How authentic is my love?  Do I strive for harmony and peace in Christ?  Is it my joy to suffer for my Lord?  Do I dilute the way I live out my faith to avoid tough conversations?  Being a follower of Christ isn’t always popular.  Do I dim the light in fear of being ridiculed?  

Lord, As I sat on the mountain listening to Your message, I was stirred.  The examination of my heart did not reveal a set of lived-out Beatitudes.  It revealed a heart in need of You reaching down to reshape and mold the values and priorities within.  I recognize the need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide the path for me to live out the Beatitudes according to Your Will.  Press them into my heart.  Help me to know and live in the true blessings of Your ways.

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