Thursday, January 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

In today's reading, we encounter the Beatitudes, a series of statements that reveal truths about the radical nature of God's economy.  These verses start off the Sermon on the Mount, the longest consecutive teaching from our Lord.  Throughout the Sermon, we recognize that the high demands included therein are completely out of our reach under our own efforts.  Rather, these exacting moral standards draw us to our loving Father and His abundant grace.  Indeed, His grace does not just bring about our effective and lasting salvation, but also empowers us to become more like our Master.

These Beatitudes indicate the precursors and ingredients to experience a "blessed" life.  "Beatitudes" stems from the Latin "beatus," meaning "happy" or "blessed."  In the Catholic tradition, "beatification" speaks to the identification of a potential "saint."  (The Scriptures explain that each believer has become a saint, set apart for God's Kingdom at the time of trusting in Christ.). Theologically, a "beatific vision" refers to God's direct communication with a person, most clearly towards His saints in heaven.

What speaks to you from the Beatitudes?  How would you like to experience life as expressed in them?

For me, hungering and thirsting for righteousness must be my top priority.  As Pastor Scott has often mentioned, what we think about first in the morning or about the most helps us to see our priorities.  Bringing forward a hunger for God -- above the natural human hungers that we all have -- is a consistent struggle.

I had the pleasure of reading a book of apologetics (the discussion and support for the Gospel and the Kingdom worldview) over Christmastime, called Letters to a Skeptic.  The book ended with a discussion of how our living out the Beatitudes really comes from having the life of Christ displayed in us.  We are incapable of creating this life by ourselves, but we may do all things through Christ Who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).  That has been my daily reflection in these first days of 2017.  Knowing that Christ is living in me has removed some "guesswork" about making the right decisions and has given me greater courage.  I am His servant, and He will never abandon me.

Lord Jesus, thank You for sharing these Beatitudes.  We thank You that, for Your followers, You desire to live Your life out in us.  We desire to bring You glory in 2017 by exemplifying the Beatitudes in our walks with You.  Please show us where we may grow and how we may trust You more for strength, wisdom, and guidance.  We love You and give You praise this day.  In Jesus's Name, amen.