Everything is Backwards
Matthew 5:2
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:2-12
Picture the scene, Jesus sitting on a hill as a crowd of Israelites gather around to hear the wisdom of this great teacher. Some even believed He was the Messiah who would restore the kingdom to Israel at that time overthrowing the Roman government. Excitedly the crowds hurry to gather around and listen. What Jesus says next will stun the ear of all who hear it. Blessed (truly happy) are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who have nothing. You can hear the murmur of the crowd “has He lost His mind?, does He not know how the world works? Is he ignorant to it’s ways.” Jesus wasn’t worried about how the kingdoms of the earth functioned, He was interested in one thing: how His kingdom functioned. Jesus goes on to stun them with statement after statement saying how blessed and truly happy are the ones who embrace his ways though polar opposite to the ways of the world system.
Ahhh, but great is the reward of those who find the true happiness that Jesus described as principles of His kingdom, for theirs is the Kingdom! Beloved, I fear today that many in the modern church have re-worded the principles of the kingdom that Jesus laid out for us here or just ignored them all together. They have stuffed them in a back room with the rest of the attributes and truths of God and His kingdom that confront our idea of modern day Christianity. I want to encourage you though that by getting back to these blessed words of Christ and humbling ourselves and coming under the glory and beauty of these words will result in hope and happiness like you have never known. After all, as the Psalmist declares in Psalms 16:11 “ In his presence is FULLNESS of joy and at His right hand are PLEASURES forevermore.” Friends; I plead with you today, return with your whole heart to the ways of His kingdom. Please return with your whole heart to the nature and character of Christ and experience pleasures and joy that you never knew were possible. This is your inheritance in Him but; there is only one way to experience them now and that is by embracing them with all your heart. Hear the words of Jesus “Blessed, truly happy are those” and know that as you believe and respond your heart will enlarge to walk in the way of His words. It is His nature, grace and truth are poured upon His lips.
