Matthew 5:2-12

Do you feel blessed? I wanted to see just what this word means in English and Dictionary.com defines blessed as blissfully happy, contented, divinely or supremely favored, fortunate.  During the time in history when Jesus was teaching from this hillside, he was there because the people wanted to know more about Him, they wanted to hear what He had to say to them.

His words to the followers then, just as now, affirm the fact it isn't worldly treasures that will make us blissfully happy; things will not bring about contentment. He teaches that the materials things of this world have no kingdom value.  The Eight Beatitudes hold us to a different standard of living; they point us to a life of humility, mercy, purity, and peacefulness.  

The Eight Beatitudes, or Sermon on the Mount, which the text for today is often called, is a way to live life.  The Christian 12-Step program, Celebrate Recovery is grounded in these verses.  For all people dealing with hurts, hang-ups and habits these eight declarations are rules to live by; a way to become recovered in Christ.

When we live by this higher standard we may not feel blessed, as this world knows blessing.  We will feel persecuted, poked fun at and sometimes we may even fear for our well-being, but Jesus taught:

"Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble." (Matthew 5:11-12)

Read Matthew 5:2-12 here.  Listen to Matthew 5:2-12 here.