BEAUTIFUL ATTITUDES OF LIFE
In our last issue, i.e. April 2002, we started meditating on the Beatitudes, which our Savior gave in the Sermon on the Mount. In this issue we continue our meditation on the same subject.
- BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY:
The Lord delights in mercy and expects His children also to behave in the same way. Micah.7: 18. He showed man to know what is good. Micah.6: 8 says, “the Lord requires man to do justly, to love mercy and walk humbly in the presence of God (Yah)”.
It is written in Habbakuk.3: 2 that the Lord has His mercy on His people even in His wrath. The psalmist, King David, repeats the merciful nature of God on His people as’ His mercy endures forever’ (Ps.136)
We live in this world because of His mercy. The Lord is merciful and wants us also to be merciful.(Lk.6: 36.)
Blessed is he who has mercy on the poor, the Lord will deliver him from trouble (Ps.41: 1). If we have mercy on others the Lord is merciful on us, especially in times of difficulties.
Messiah condemns the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites, they pray for long hours and fast to show to others, but devour the widows and their hearts are far from the Lord. They pay tithes in mint and anise seeds, which are small things but have omitted law, judgment (justice), mercy and faith in the Lord. Such people have no righteousness (no good living), they have forgotten to show mercy, instead trouble people, grab things from others and harass others in the name of religion and they have no faith in God. They don’t feel the presence of God’s power in their lives. They utter words with their lips but their hearts are far from God, thereby they were called hypocrites.
Daniel prays saying (Dan.9: 9) ‘to the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness though we rebelled against Him’.
So now let us come to His presence and be merciful to others that we can obtain mercy from our heavenly father.
- BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, THEY SHALL SEE GOD:
Follow peace with all men and Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb.12: 14).
Paul says, ‘now I see through a glass, darkly, but then I see face to face’ (I Cor.13: 12). David says,’ as for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness’ (Ps.17: 15)
Paul and David are confident that they will see God (Yah) face to face. There are many more believers who have faith to see the Almighty. (Acts.2: 25). David speaks concerning the Lord …I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
Even Moses blessed the children of Israel saying,’ The Lord made His face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. (Num.6: 25,26).
The blessings of seeing God can be obtained only if we are pure in heart, having peace with all men, with righteous living. The presence of the Almighty’s right hand will be felt even in our daily lives.
- BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD:
Messiah was called the Prince of Peace. (Isa.9: 6.)David says that a perfect and righteous man will have peace. Ps.37: 37. ‘Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of
that man is peace’. Ps.119: 165, says’ great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them.’ Prov.16: 7 explains the enemies are made at peace with the man who fears God. Isa.26: 3 such a man is in perfect peace because He trusts totally in the Lord (Yah). His faith does not waver. He looks for help from above and knows he will definitely get it. He is not afraid of anything because he believes in the promise of God (Yah) and waits on the Lord. Therefore he is in total peace both with God (Yah) and man.(Rom.5: 1, Heb.12: 14.)
His peace flows like a river.(Isa.48: 18), never ending, continuous, without any hindrances. He lives in peace and is called by God (Yah) for peace.(I Cor.7: 15) and proclaims peace.Matt.10:13. When Yashua was born the angels proclaimed the message of peace on earth and goodwill towards men.(Lk.2: 14). God (Yah) always has thoughts of peace towards men. (Jer.29: 11). The fruit of the Holy Spirit when it guides us in our daily lives is peace (Gal.5: 22, Jas.3: 17). The kingdom of God (Yah) is also peace. (Rom.14: 17). A godly man always seeks peace and wants to continue in it, (I Pet.3: 11) and is called the Ambassador of Peace. Therefore such people are called peacemakers and not peace breakers and are called children of God (Yah).
8.BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE, FOR THEIR’S IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:
The kingdom of heaven is righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom.14: 17). If we want to inherit eternal life we should live a good, right and correct life. When we start living a good life we face a lot of problems, persecutions, people talk ill about the way we walk, but the end of this good life is eternal life given by God (Yah). Don’t bother what men talk about but whenever you do something you feel is right, ask the Lord for understanding and if you are convinced, do it. Even if you have to face humiliation unto death, do it and you’ll get your reward in heaven. Rejoice and be glad. In Neh.9: 26 we read how the people killed the prophets who testified against them. In Acts.5: 41, the disciples were beaten for preaching the gospel. The Bible is full of such instances where men were persecuted and killed for loving God (Yah) more than anything else in the world (Acts.7: 52). I Pet.4: 14 says when we are reproached for Messiah’s sake, (Lk.6: 23) we should be happy for the spirit and glory of God (Yah) rests on us and our reward in heaven is great. It is written that all who live godly in Messiah will suffer persecution (II Tim.3: 12). We as Christians should not retaliate and curse people who persecute us but we should bless them. (Rom. 12: 14)
The Beatitudes are principles that we as exemplary Christians should follow. When we lead such lives people around us will realize that we are living godly and righteous lives and they too will try to correct themselves and follow these principles.
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