The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)
虛心的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。
哀慟的人有福了．因為他們必得安慰。
溫柔的人有福了．因為他們必承受地土。
飢渴慕義的人有福了．因為他們必得飽足。
憐恤人的人有福了．因為他們必蒙憐恤。
清心的人有福了．因為他們必得見神。
使人和睦的人有福了．因為他們必稱為神的兒子。
為義受逼迫的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。
(馬太福音5:3-10)
Perhaps after reading these verse, we will ask God to transform our life so that we will possess these character in our heart. This is one interpretation.
However, if you are looking from another angle, Jesus want to encourage those, who have chosen to carry the cross to follow Him, to continue to carry on. Sometimes we may grumble against God, asking why injustice prevails, the evil prospers and the suffering happening to us. Being a follower of Jesus, God has indeed done all the transformation work in our heart; We are poor in spirit and have a sense of spiritual inadequacy in our heart; we will mourn for God's kingdom sake; our attitude are meek; we hunger and thirst for righteousness; we show mecry to others; we try to keep ourselves pure in our heart; we are peacemakers; and we have already expected persecution.
Yet for what? for what is the reason to live like this when you have realised this will lead yourself to be trampled by the others, and fall into a very disadvantage and vulunerable position in this world? To an extreme, some christians may even think that these christian outlook of life would slow down their personal development, and they have decided this is simply an ideal and not workable in the real world. So rather than believing and trust the God's word, they will try to search for another value system that allow them to survive and get success in the world. Rather then following their original nature of poor in spirit,or meek, or so on, they start to get aggressive and become cynical. Sticking to the christian faith and it's derived value system is too simplistic, a bit stupid, and doesn't satisfy their heart. They backslide.
The beauty of the Beatitudes is that though the cost of following Jesus is hight, here are the promises for use who have chosen to continue to carry the cross to follow Him. We will receive kingdom of heaven; we will be comforted; we will inherit the earth.Our heart will be filled; Mercy will show to us; we will see God; and we are called sons of God.
So instead of seeking way to turn away the original nature that God has transformed us when we have accepted Christ, let's appreciate the beauty of this nature and continue to stick to it; to be poor in spirit; to mourn for God's kingdom sake; to be the meek; to hunger and thirst for righteousness; to show mecry to others; to keep ourselves pure in our heart; to be the peacemakers; and to bravely stand firm for the faith when persecution comes. There are our beings once we have Jesus in our heart. No need to feel ashame for it.
Blessed are those who mourn,for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10)
虛心的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。
哀慟的人有福了．因為他們必得安慰。
溫柔的人有福了．因為他們必承受地土。
飢渴慕義的人有福了．因為他們必得飽足。
憐恤人的人有福了．因為他們必蒙憐恤。
清心的人有福了．因為他們必得見神。
使人和睦的人有福了．因為他們必稱為神的兒子。
為義受逼迫的人有福了．因為天國是他們的。
(馬太福音5:3-10)
Perhaps after reading these verse, we will ask God to transform our life so that we will possess these character in our heart. This is one interpretation.
However, if you are looking from another angle, Jesus want to encourage those, who have chosen to carry the cross to follow Him, to continue to carry on. Sometimes we may grumble against God, asking why injustice prevails, the evil prospers and the suffering happening to us. Being a follower of Jesus, God has indeed done all the transformation work in our heart; We are poor in spirit and have a sense of spiritual inadequacy in our heart; we will mourn for God's kingdom sake; our attitude are meek; we hunger and thirst for righteousness; we show mecry to others; we try to keep ourselves pure in our heart; we are peacemakers; and we have already expected persecution.
Yet for what? for what is the reason to live like this when you have realised this will lead yourself to be trampled by the others, and fall into a very disadvantage and vulunerable position in this world? To an extreme, some christians may even think that these christian outlook of life would slow down their personal development, and they have decided this is simply an ideal and not workable in the real world. So rather than believing and trust the God's word, they will try to search for another value system that allow them to survive and get success in the world. Rather then following their original nature of poor in spirit,or meek, or so on, they start to get aggressive and become cynical. Sticking to the christian faith and it's derived value system is too simplistic, a bit stupid, and doesn't satisfy their heart. They backslide.
The beauty of the Beatitudes is that though the cost of following Jesus is hight, here are the promises for use who have chosen to continue to carry the cross to follow Him. We will receive kingdom of heaven; we will be comforted; we will inherit the earth.Our heart will be filled; Mercy will show to us; we will see God; and we are called sons of God.
So instead of seeking way to turn away the original nature that God has transformed us when we have accepted Christ, let's appreciate the beauty of this nature and continue to stick to it; to be poor in spirit; to mourn for God's kingdom sake; to be the meek; to hunger and thirst for righteousness; to show mecry to others; to keep ourselves pure in our heart; to be the peacemakers; and to bravely stand firm for the faith when persecution comes. There are our beings once we have Jesus in our heart. No need to feel ashame for it.
posted by justanotherbrotherinchrist | 11:53 pm
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