so here is how JESUS begins his first sermon, matthew 5.3-10 (nirv), *blessed are those who are spiritually needy. the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. *blessed are those who are sad. they will be comforted. *blessed are those who are free of pride. they will be given the earth. *blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. they will be filled. *blessed are those who show mercy. they will be shown mercy. *blessed are those whose hearts are pure. they will see GOD. *blessed are those who make peace. they will be called sons of GOD. *blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
now notice each of the eight beatitudes (that is what they are called) begins with the word "blessed". the word "blessed" is an old english word and it simply means "happy ".
also when you read those things, don’t they sound like contradictions? happy if you're sad... happy if you're needy ... happy if you suffer! does that sound like happiness to you?
well JESUS was saying that you can learn to be happy in spite of your circumstances. if you have to have all of your problems solved before you become happy, will you ever be happy? no. if you have to have everything perfect in your life before you're happy, will you be happy? no.
JESUS said, i want to teach you that happiness depends not on the right circumstances but it depends on the right attitudes.
and the point of these contradictions is my happiness is not determined by what's happening around me, but rather by what's happening in me. so JESUS is saying, it's not how much we have, it's what we are that makes us happy. happiness does not depend on the external, the atmosphere outside; it depends on the attitude inside. it is not determined by external circumstances; it's determined by my internal attitude. these are the be-attitudes.
just a thought from the front porch…
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