Blessed Are...

We are beginning a new series on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. It is very interesting to see that the different types of characteristics listed are present tense, "Blessed are the poor in spirit... Blessed are those who mourn, ..." I often wonder if Christians live with a futuristic "pie in the sky" idea of Christianity. The ideas of heaven, end time events, salvation, redemption, sanctification, glorification seem to bring on a long, slow yawn to Christians because they seem so far away.

That is not the way I read the Beatitudes at all. These spiritual principles that Christ addressed in Matthew 5 are just as fresh and alive today as they were on the day that Jesus' voice pierced the Israeli air nearly 2,000 years ago! These are not precious promises for the distant future, but realities to be lived in TODAY!

If you haven't read Matthew 5:1-12 recently I would encourage you to find some quiet, secluded place and try to read them again for the very first time!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. So I should give thanks and bless the name of the Lord in good times and in bad times. We view mourning as a down time, we view poor in spirit as lacking, ... Yet with and from each come blessings we would not experience if everything was OK. This is a fresh way to look at the Beatitudes, Thank you. gracie