Blessed Are You

The Beatitudes of Matthew 5 are very familiar verses to anyone who has read the Bible. These words from Christ's sermon on the mount are meant to be an inspiration to His followers. I have to admit to you, however, that these words always left me feeling somewhat discouraged.

I suppose one reason that I didn't fully appreciate these poetic words of Jesus was that I was coming from the mindset that I had to be perfect in order to be saved. I heard these words to say that if I was going to ever make it to heaven that I must be a meek, merciful, peacemaker who was pure in heart and could expect to be persecuted! Reading the list of attributes that Christ mentions in these verses, weighed me down with the regret that I could never measure up to all these saintly characteristics.

I thought I could lay claim to a few of these qualities. I knew that I could be merciful, but I certainly wasn't meek! (My family could certainly confirm that fact!) As for pure in heart, what did that even look like?

Having finally discovered the truth about God's amazing Grace and understanding that there is nothing whatsoever that I can do to obtain salvation, I can look at the beatitudes from a new perspective. I realize that all these qualities come only from God. However, even with this knowledge, I have come to see the words from Christ's sermon in a much different light.

I like to imagine that Jesus was not giving us a list of characteristics that we must display, but rather He was making a point of talking in a personal way to each and every personality found in mankind. He was making sure that every person felt spoken to. He wanted all to know that they were valued by Him. His words showed that He could see deep into everyone's soul and meet the needs of each and every heart. There was a blessing for ALL!

I Know You!

Blessed Are You

Today, I say to you who are of a Compliant, Melancholy personality,

Blessed are you, the poor in spirit.

I recognize your struggle for self,

Your feelings of depression.

You look at the world and feel

hopelessness at its condition.

But I tell you, take heart!

The Kingdom of Heaven is yours - Now!

I know how you mourn your failings

And feel deeply the sorrows of the world,

To you, I give you My Comfort.

Jesus turns and looks toward the back to catch a woman's eyes. She shyly glances down......

Blessed are you who are meek.

You are content to be in the background.

Blessed are you the Peacemakers.

You are a personality of Steadiness and Loyalty.

You desire peace and stability.

I want to offer you reassurance.

You will be given the land.

It is your rightful inheritance

as the children of God.

The Master looks down to a young man in front of Him.......

And to you, the Choleric, the one

Who shows a Dominance personality,

I know how you thirst and hunger

After truth and righteousness.

You have a deep hole in your soul.

Your quest to quench your thirst

Sometimes hurts yourself and others,

But I recognize the tender longings of your soul.

Drink of Me - the Living Water.

You SHALL be filled!

This is my guarantee.

Jesus smiles and looks lovingly at a young woman at His feet. Then he says......

To you who love people, the ones of influencing personalities,

You have a gift of mercy.

Blessed are you.

You, too, desire peace and harmony.

And yet you fear rejection and struggle with insecurity.

Be of good cheer. You are son and daughters of God!

You will obtain mercy. You will not be rejected by Me!

Then Jesus scans the crowd. As a loving Father to His children He continues......

If for My sake any of you are persecuted or reviled;

If men try to speak evil against you,

Remember who you are!

You are My children!

Rejoice in that knowledge. Be exceedingly glad!

I love you just as you are right now.

Paraphrased by: lindylou :)

Grace is NEVER cheap!

"No Deposit, No Return" was my very emotional response to a bible class discussion at church a few years ago. Our group was talking about faith vs. works. A comment was made about God's love being the only important thing in this life in regards to our salvation. A woman responded by saying that love alone was not enough. In fact, that was what she termed, "sloppy love" or "cheap grace". I was appalled at those incongruous terms! It saddened me to think that someone might liken God's grace to something that was cheap.

"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be

thought worthy who has trampled the son of God underfoot,

counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified

a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of Grace?" Hebrews 10:29

The term "cheap grace" seems to be a favorite of legalistic Christians. I hear it all the time when I am trying to share my New Covenant beliefs with members of my childhood church. When I say that the law was fulfilled at the cross and that Jesus is my Sabbath Rest, I hear, "What? Do you mean that you can now go lie, steal and murder?!" Hearing that question stops me in my tracks. Not because I do not have an answer to it, but rather because it tells me that the speaker of those words does not understand what is being said and really doesn't want to hear my answer.

Satan's greatest deception is to make us think that somehow we have a part to play in our salvation. We get this idea when we are taught that keeping the 10 Commandments is essential to our being saved. Our behavior and salvation get tightly bound together by this belief. It is human nature to fall easily into this deception. Our lives are a constant game of give and take, hard work and reward. How many times have I told my own children, "If it is too good to be true, it must not be true!"

Having boundaries and a checklist of do's and don'ts gives us a temporary feeling of security and safety. If we exert our willpower and avoid eating a candy bar or that extra cheesy burrito, we pat ourselves on the back and say, "Good for me. I'm one step closer to translation!" Check! Perhaps we go to church on the "correct" day. We give our tithes and offerings and sing a hymn or two, and when the sun sets, we relax and sigh and say, "Well, I did everything I should have done this week!" Check!

Deep down in each of us, however, is the niggling suspicion that no matter what we do or avoid doing, we will never quite measure up to God's expectations. Despite our outward show of good behavior, we know that our heart holds some dark and sinful things that don't seem to want to go away, no matter how hard we try to cut them from our lives. And we are left with a nagging worry and doubt that we will not be saved after all!

This is why the Bible refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ as Good News! Undeserved, beautiful Grace is ours for the taking!

"But now the righteousness of God APART from the law is revealed,

being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness

of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who

believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short

of the glory of God, being justified FREELY by His grace through

the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:21-24

So, can I break any of the 10 Commandments written by God's hand on stone and still be saved? The text above answers that question. All have sinned. All have been given redemption through Christ Jesus. Yes! Despite my lying, cheating, murdering heart, salvation is mine! My only "work" is to accept this truth! The wonderful, transforming truth of this good news, is that when I really understand what God has done for me, I want to let His love shine through me in everything I do and say. Love becomes my heart's desire. I want to rest in Him EVERY day! And deep down, I know that even when I goof up, I am not condemned.

"There is no judgment awaiting those who trust Him." John 3:18

The atoning sacrifice of Christ is true! Our salvation is complete in Him. It is all about Jesus and nothing at all about us! God's love is never sloppy. His grace is never cheap! It costs us nothing, and yet with blood and the anguish of His soul, God sacrificed everything to ensure that this wonderful gift is available to all.

No Deposit, No Return

God's love is never sloppy,
His grace is never cheap.
Both fall to earth from heaven
At a cost that runs so deep.

The blood price has been paid,
God's love shone through His Son.
Man's debt to sin is cancelled.
Christ saw that it was done.

Are you feeling worn and weary?
Is your guilty soul laid low?
Look up to see God's grace rain down,
It all around you flows.

God's love and grace are free.
There's no deposit, no return.
There's nothing you can do,
And that's all that you must learn.

Sweet love will heal your wounded heart,
His grace will set you free.
He'll take the burdens from your soul
And happy you will be.

by lindylou