Why is it when I read the Beatitudes, I begin to squirm in my chair? Is it because my conscience is attempting to excuse my innermost thoughts?
The Beatitudes of Matthew 5 are words meant to bear upon the ears, and press into the conscience; words spoken to our heart, and soul. After we understand the words, we are to bear witness, to imitate, and to profess to others Jesus Christ, both His life, and manner.
A Christian’s heart is like a needle of a compass under the influence of a magnetic pull; at times it may be temporally diverted by outside forces, but for those of faith, it will return to its spiritual search for a true and positive direction.
Christ’s promises, His grace and love are as an ocean in which all the rivers of life flow; never filled, yet supplying all the living waters for those who seek after it.
What nation, what group of men, what party, be it religious or political has ever exceeded in morals? We fail because of the deficiencies of our systems; deficient because of the partial, or full rejection of the gospel of Christ which should be the first principles of all our lives.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger, and thirst for righteousness.”
Micah 6:8, “He (God) has showed you, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of us, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
But self-love and self-interest betray us all. His is a strict equilibrium of standards of justice, and of judgment that admits no biases, no preferences, and no favors. We all have broken the golden rule of justice!
I for one cringe at the mention of walking humbly with our Lord, I blush; I step back because I have in my flesh a rebellious heart, and an opposition to his government and authority. At times I have become impudent, rebellious, and fearful. Why do we act like this, is it because we are unthankful, and ungrateful?
We pray, “Let your will be done in our lives,” yet on the inside wish His will is not done in us, especially when it is on a collision course with our own will. So in all honesty can we say, “We are walking humbly with God?”
If this is where you find yourself, as I do at times, in what sense are we to accept the Sermon on the Mount with which Christ the author and finisher of the faith had opened his great commission?
Its something we must all consider, examining every motive, and thought.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com