The Beatitudes of Jesus are so much more than a Christian thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen Bob the bloodhound rolling his bloodshot eyes when he hears supposed Christians trying to force their brand of righteous living onto others.
The world needs authentic and real relationships from Christians, grounded in Christ’s Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:3-10)
Genuine righteousness isn’t self-righteous and condescending. It isn’t outward showy religion. No, the kind of righteousness Jesus set forth were Beatitudes, inner spiritual dispositions of the heart. The Beatitudes of Jesus care about why we do what we do.
The follower of Jesus hungers and thirsts for righteousness. (Matthew 5:6; Luke 6:21)
God specializes in filling empty hearts and healing broken spirits. The person who hungers for right relationships does not look at righteousness as optional, or something nice to have; they cannot live without it.
Righteousness is a relational term. It is the continuing desire for a right relationship with God, and with other people. Honest relations result in harmony with God and neighbor. The righteousness of Christ’s Beatitudes is how God intended people to live.
People who strongly desire Jesus and his righteousness are not hard to spot. They:
- Crave and devour God’s Word, so they daily read Scripture.
- Can’t talk enough about Jesus, so they pursue fellowship.
- Want to know Christ better, so they pray a lot.
- Desire proper relations with others, so they make things right with others.
God will fill and bring satisfaction to those who seek righteousness.
3 Beatitudes grow out of hearts being filled with righteousness….
The Merciful (Matthew 5:7)
Mercy is a loving response to someone who is in misery due to some sort of hardship, trauma, oppression, or bad decision. The merciful person demonstrates grace and accepts others because he knows that he himself needs mercy. The merciful know God has shown them mercy, therefore they show mercy to others.
Those who are merciful will be shown mercy. If we treat others harshly and unmercifully, we should not expect to receive mercy from God. Gracious folk are gentle folk. They are bent toward offering mercy, not judgment. The one filled with righteousness responds with mercy. (Luke 10:25-37)
The Pure in Heart (Matthew 5:8)
Pure hearted folk are those who recognize their guilt and shame, deal with it, and have a clean conscience before God and the world. Such persons acknowledge their wrongs, limitations, weaknesses, and shortcomings. They keep short accounts with others and are above board in everything.
The pure of heart will see God. They know they cannot make themselves pure, so they keep looking to Jesus for their forgiveness because they hunger for righteousness.
Sin cannot be whitewashed or tossed into the utility closet. It must be dealt with. Sometimes we struggle with purity of heart because we are focused not on Jesus, but on our own performance and perfection. We need to let God fill our hungry hearts with pure divine love.
The Peacemaker (Matthew 5:9)
Peace is more than the absence of conflict. Peace is harmonious relations with God and others. What’s more, Jesus was describing not only the presence of personal peace but of being a peacemaker. They
- Show others how to relate to God because they know the process of being humbled before God and being filled with righteousness.
- Do not create problems but listen carefully and seek solutions.
- Spread good news, knowing that through Jesus there is true harmony between God and people.
Peacemakers will be called children of God because their character reflects who God is.
Conclusion
Arrogant pride keeps us appearances. It avoids authentic feelings and the shadows of one’s heart. It sweeps sin under the rug. The Beatitudes are righteousness which cares about our relationship with God and others.
If we find ourselves rationalizing our behavior rather than owning it; living impure lives; inflicting punishment and not mercy upon others; or creating disharmony instead of peace – the solution is to come humbly to the foot of the cross, letting the presence of Christ fill us. (Colossians 1:19-20)
May you find in Jesus a righteousness of mercy, purity, and peacemaking which is secure and enduring.
See you on the trail.