The first three Beatitudes are sort of a three-stage plan Jesus gives us that shows the way to find that true inner joy, contentment and peace no matter what circumstance we may be in.
Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit...for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus is NOT referring to the poverty of material possessions. This is a different poverty...the poverty of the spirit. When we realize our desperate need of God, we can see ourselves for who we really are. We desperately need God because without Him we are doomed to hell because we are hopeless sinners in need of forgiveness. And God has the answer for that...Jesus. When you realize you are in this state, it's then you are "Blessed"! It's then you can gain eternal life, a place for you in heaven....all because you realize you are helpless without God.
Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn... for they will be comforted."
Jesus is NOT referring to being happy in grief. But Jesus says that once we see ourselves as we really are we can't help but "mourn". When we are truly sorrowful over our sin this will lead to blessedness. Why? Because this leads to salvation through Jesus the Christ. When a person sees sin in its true ugliness, they can't help but experience sorrow over their sin. It's in this state that the Lord steps in and comforts. It's then you are "blessed".
Matthew 5:5
"Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth."
Once you realize you are hopeless and helpless without God, once you are truly sorrowful over your sin and you see yourself as you really are, there is a certain heart quality that results. That heart quality is meekness. This is NOT weakness or cowardice. What Jesus is talking about is POWER under constraint. It's all about being humble, gentle, long suffering...those are the attributes of Jesus. We are called to have the same "be-attitude" of Jesus...meekness. And when we have this be-attitude, Jesus says we get to reign alongside our King, Jesus Christ. How much more can we be blessed?
This is Jesus' plan for inner joy and contentment. This goes beyond our temporal life and points to the promised eternal life. Jesus offers it to anyone who will come to Him, realize their helplessness without God, then be mournful over their sin, confessing and repenting of it. What blessedness, what joy!
If you have never trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, this same promise of inner joy and contentment awaits you. What are you waiting for?
MaryAnn
MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 37 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons and one granddaughter! She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.
DIGGING DEEPER
James 1:16-18
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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