Showing posts with label Beatitudes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beatitudes. Show all posts

Monday, February 3, 2025

LOVE SPEAKS LOVE

 LOVE SPEAKS LOVE


Throughout this past month, I have read Facebook responses to the change of administration in our country. Whether they were for or against Biden or Trump, there were unkind words, defensive comments, and slurs made about each person. Mercy and grace given to us was often set aside to declare political and personal positions about the two individuals. I admit my own thoughtless guilt in this matter – whether spoken aloud or to myself. Though I may disagree with either person, my call is to show love for them both by word and deed.

Reviewing others and my own attitudes, the Holy Spirit convicted me of careless words in opposition to my call to love others as myself or as I would want to be loved. There was even the question of trusting God as King of the universe believing He can cause ALL THINGS (or people) to work out for our good. These were humbling conversations between He and I.

Bottom line: followers of Christ are called to love as Christ loved His Father, God. He taught on love in the gospels beginning with Matthew in the beatitudes. Instructions were to love our neighbor and our enemies and pray for them. James 1 tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger in order to produce uprightness. We are to be doers of God’s Word and not just hearers so that we don’t show ourselves to be frauds. This means my words and actions defend or defy the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ and His salvation in me.

Proverbs 3:3-6 (AMP) reminds me: “Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you]; Bind them[securely]around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man .Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].”

by Joy Pedersen

Monday, June 27, 2022

Deeper in the Beatitudes


Beloved, the First Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) is a priority to God, but really it is to be our response to Him. Mathew 5:19: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

We may not have thought about that, but everything is prefaced by THE GREATEST LOVE He has for US!  Remember, greatness is determined by Him. “We love because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19. And the Cross is our anchor demonstrating Jesus’ love.

The Beatitudes from the Sermon on The Mount hinge on this foundational scripture. I think we can all agree that we are limited in walking out the first commandment, but The Be-Attitude’s help us understand how to do so. They define the godly character Jesus values, and the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in.

Why do we need to know The Beatitudes? The kingdom lifestyle described by Jesus at the  Mount is all about how we receive God’s blessings as He rules and reigns in our hearts as King and Lord. The Beatitutdes reveal God’s heart and when lived produce good fruit in our lives. Do you desire to know what He likes, loves, and wants? We find it, in part, in Matthew 5. We surely want to be pleasing to God, so there is great reward in pursuing the Be-Attitudes.

It is our responsibility to know, understand, and apply these scriptures. The Beatitudes lifestyle is for today and till the end of time. If you’re like me, I saw the Beatitudes on a surface level only. They confused me, and I focused on only a few in particular. Going deeper I was challenged to go further into their meaning. Let’s examine them together…

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-11

“And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

·         ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (This is being aware of our spiritual need of experiencing more of God’s presence and power in our heart and ministry )

·         Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. (This usually manifests itself in prayer but it’s recognizing the gap we feel between what God has for us and what we are experiencing.)

·         Blessed are the meek,  for they shall inherit the earth. (Meekness is power under control. It is a restraint on our spirit that causes us to be aware of our need for wisdom from others.)

·          Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. (Hunger is key here, to have an appetite for more of Jesus' righteousness, and increase.)

·         Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. (Treating others with a tender spirit when they fail, attack, or disappoint us.)

·          Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (Treating others with a tender spirit when they fail, attack, or disappoint us.)

·         Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. (Bringing peace or healing to broken relationships.)

·          Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Bearing the stigma and pressures of standing for righteousness.)

·          Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Beloved, we have gone deeper through these incredible scriptures. I hope your heart and depth of understanding have been increased, and that you are inspired to prayer. I hope that you are motivated by grace to have faith in God for today, your future, and for your part in Jesus' plans. He always carves a path for us to follow because He loves us and wants us to succeed according to Him. Jesus wants YOU to be blessed and GREAT!

Love, Lydia

Prayer

Lord, as I live my life, help me continually keep these Beatitudes in mind and spirit. Help me intentionally live them out. When I fail to do this well,  give me strength to improve as your Holy Spirit strengthens and empowers me. I confess I want this lifestyle to alter my life in such a way as to purify me and cause me to walk in holiness. I desired to be pleasing to you, Jesus, by sharing and living this out the best I am able with your help.

AMEN