Blessed

Cheryl Smith Mitchell

Jesus taught His disciples basic principles of living the Christian life in His Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew the fifth chapter; also referred to as the Beatitudes or ebonically speaking, the attitude I be.

It is interesting to note the first beatitude; blessed (happy) is the poor in spirit – the humble. Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV) “These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

The first thing listed that the Lord hates is “a proud look.” The sin of pride is what got Lucifer and a third of the angels kicked out of heaven. But Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is the humble.

From my early youth, I was taught humility by example through my grandmother and mother. I was taught to not think of myself more highly than I ought and to defer to others when situations warranted it.

Jesus taught to be poor in spirit is to understand that we need God and are nothing without Him. In Him, we move and have our being.

The second beatitude is to be happy to mourn (your sin) for you will be comforted. David said in Psalm 51:17 (KJV), “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” We can’t be like Lot’s wife and look back or the children of Israel who complained to Moses that he took them into the desert to die because they would rather be back in Egypt. But Apostle Paul declares in Galatians 5:1 (KJV), “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Blessed are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering) for they shall inherit the earth. Many people mistake meekness for weakness but a meek person exhibits strength. Paul says in Galatians 6:1 (KJV), “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness”; without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness AMP

Likewise, Jesus taught the disciples that blessed are the meek, those who submit to the authority of God, for they shall inherit the earth. Jonah needed some assistance in getting him to submit to divine authority in the form of a big fish.

Continuing to instruct the multitude, Jesus taught that in order to be successful in living the Christian life, one must hunger and thirst for righteousness. He that does this shall be filled. Job said in Job 23:12 (KJV) “…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

Jesus taught blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. We are not to be like the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 who begged his Master for mercy until he was able to pay his debt in full but did not show the same mercy to a fellow servant who begged him for the same consideration for a debt he owed to the unforgiving servant.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Jesus knew that we would have to do as Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) commands, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God. Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) “Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord:” and Romans 12:18 (KJV) “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” We are not to act like the world but rather be peacemakers where there would be confusion and strife. If we act like the world when put to the test in certain situations we are no better than they are.

Finally, we know that he that would live godly must suffer persecution. Therefore Jesus said, blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If they persecuted Jesus, what makes us think we’ll escape persecution when we acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior?

If you want to be blessed some more, then read, study and practice Psalm 1:1-3 (KJV), which says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, and sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted y the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Beblessed!