SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/22/2020
11:38 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-1 “The
Beatitudes”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew 5:3
Message of the
verse: “Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
When we look at Matthew 5:3-12 we see what is commonly
called The Beatitudes, which is a name derived from Latin and referring to a
state of happiness or bliss. What we see
here, as we have mentioned in earlier SD’s that Jesus is presenting the
possibility of people being genuinely happy, and that available happiness is
what we see in the opening theme of the Sermon on the Mount. MacArthur adds “Many people, including some
Christians, find that hard to believe.
How could a message as demanding and impossible as the Sermon on the
Mount be intended to make people happy?
Yet the first and greatest sermon preached by Jesus Christ begins with
the resounding and repeated them of happiness, a fitting start for the New
Testament’s ‘good news.’” I believe that
our study, especially of verses 3-12 will be a mind changer for perhaps many of
us. At this time I want to quote verses
3-12.
“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 gentle,
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 have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed
are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say
all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your
reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.’”
I
suppose the question may come up about God as we look at these beatitudes as some
have perhaps accused God of being a cosmic killjoy. Is God a cosmic killjoy? The answer to this question is a resounding “NO.” It is the desire of God to save men from
their tragic lostness and to
give them power to obey His will, and to make them happy. I think that the important part of that last
statement is “to give them power to obey His will,” and once that is done then
we will be fulfilled and happy because we are fulfilled. MacArthur adds “In this great sermon, His Son
carefully and clearly sets forth the way of blessedness for those who come to
Him.”
MacArthur
teaches that “Makarios (blessed”
means happy, fortunate, blissful. Homer
used the word to describe a wealthy man, and Plato used it of one who is successful
in business. Both Homer and Hesiod spoke
of the Greek gods as being happy (makarios)
within themselves, because they were unaffected by the world of men—who were
subject to poverty, disease, weakness, misfortune, and death. The fullest meaning of the term, therefore,
had to do with an inward contentedness that is not affected by
circumstances. That is the kind of
happiness God desires for His children, a state of joy and well-being that does
not depend on physical, temporary circumstances (cf. Phil. 4:11-13).” 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have
learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along
with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every
circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both
of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who
strengthens me.
We
will look at one more word in closing for this SD “The word ‘blessed’ is often
used of God Himself, as when David ended one of his psalms with the declaration
‘Blessed be God!’ Ps. 68:35). His son
Solomon sang, ‘Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works
wonders’ (Ps. 72:18). Paul spoke of ‘the
glorious gospel of the blessed God ‘(1 Tim. 1:11) and of Jesus Christ ‘who is
the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords’
(6:15). Blessedness is a characteristic
of God, and it can be a characteristic of men only as they share in the nature
of God. There is no blessedness, no
perfect contentedness and joy of the sort of which Jesus speaks here, except that
which comes from a personal relationship to Him, through whose ‘magnificent
promises’ we ‘become partakers of the divine nature’ (2 Pet. 1:4).”
He
again we begin to understand that the Sermon on the Mount is meant for
believers and through the power of the Holy Spirit of God gives us the power to
obey what Jesus is preaching about.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I can only learn humility through the power
of the Holy Spirit, and can also receive joy from the Spirit of God as I study
His Word.
My Steps of Faith for Today: To receive
humility, contentment, and joy from the Holy Spirit of God to live a life that
is pleasing to the Lord.
3/22/2020 12:18 PM
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