Monday, March 9, 2020

Blessed Are

A short interruption to our journey through the Bible, which is coming to an end probably next week as we turn to the last chapters of Revelation. But I was running the other day and misheard some of the lyrics on my mp3 player, and it changed the way I think about something, so I wanted to share.

That something is the Beatitudes. Now, I love the Beatitudes. And if you sing them to me, you'll get me every time. Every time. Sing me a psalm, and you might get me in the same way. But I digress.

The lyrics say, "Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart." Which is true. Jesus said it. It's right there in Matthew for all of us. But nearing the end of a grueling run, trying to hold on for those last few miles, what I heard was, "Persecuted are the blessed and the pure in heart."

And that's true, too.

I realized that the way that Jesus spoke the Beatitudes provides comfort to those of us who are doing our best with this life in the flesh, with the hand this broken world has dealt us. There's tremendous hope and promise in His words - blessed are you, for God sees you and loves you and honors you. But if you move the "the" in the Beatitudes, what you come up with is another truth - absolutely true by the measure of God who is Truth - that tells you how to live as a person blessed.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Yes. But also, the blessed are poor in spirit, for their kingdom is heaven. If you are blessed by God, you will be poor in spirit. You will be living as a citizen of a different world. Heaven is your home; you're just a-passin' through this earth.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Yes. But also, the blessed mourn, for they are comforted. If you are blessed by God, you know how to grieve because the God you love who also loves you holds you through it all. You're not afraid of the things that break you, of the troubles of this world. You know how to hold them in a tender heart and let the tears fall.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Yes. But also, the blessed are meek, for they have the whole earth given to them for their use (for His glory). If you are blessed by God, you are meek. You know that you don't have to fight to get what you need in this world, that you don't have to claw your way around or live with clenched fists the way the rest of the world does. You know that God has given you dominion over creation and the whole world is at your disposal to live for His glory.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Yes. But also, the blessed hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they are filled. If you are blessed by God, you ache for more of Him. You long for more of Him. You know what it's like to have fullness in your life, and this only makes you desire more of it. Which seems weird until you remember that we have a God who is not just full, but overflowing. It's out of this kind of abundance that we hunger and thirst.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Yes. But also, the blessed are merciful, for they have been shown mercy. If you are blessed by God, you have not gotten what you deserve. He has rescued you from your own sin and not held you accountable for your screw-ups. This enables you to be merciful to others. Not only does it enable you; it insists of you that you are merciful to others.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Yes. But also, the blessed are pure in heart, for they have seen God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Yes. But also, the blessed are peacemakers, for they are children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Yes. But also, the blessed are persecuted because of righteousness, for their kingdom is heaven. If you are blessed, you live a life that is mocked because you know you're a citizen of another world.

So often, we think that God's blessing flows from our behavior or heart or love, or whatever, but the truth is that our behavior, heart, love flow from God's blessing. Or at least, it should.

If you are living, the Beatitudes will bless you. If you are blessed, they will guide the way you live. All you have to do is move the "the." It's about calling yourself blessed and seeing what that means. It means something. It really does.

Do you see this? Do you see it? (This just FIRES my heart up. Sorry.) 

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