For the past few weeks, I shared Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and the words of the Beatitudes. Jesus lovingly sat on a hillside with His disciples and left them with the promises and truth of the Beatitudes. He began with you’re blessed when and ended each truth with the reward that would follow when persecution, competition and loss threatens to take you down. Jesus left these nuggets to His disciples to teach them the path to following Him is challenging, but the end is always in sight. The gift of love, comfort, and contentment is in Jesus.
The challenge of living a life that honors God comes with times of feeling overwhelmed, uncertain and full of choices. Being a perfectionist, I pre-plan as much as possible so I steer away from the wrong choices. God knows my heart and loves everything about me. But there are times that I branch out on my own. I choose a path going in a different direction because I think I know best. When I find myself lost and floundering, I am always found again in the loving arms of my Father. I just need to call out His name. In the time of being lost and found again, I hear the sweet reminder of truth filling the space of doubt and it sounds like–you’re blessed when.
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The Message version of the Beatitudes challenges me in new ways. I read words that reassure me I’m blessed when I’m at the end of my rope. Or it is when you’ve lost what is most dear to you that you are fully embraced in God’s loving arms. Each beatitude rings true with a challenge and an answer of finding more of Jesus in the letting go.
Jesus ends His sermon with these words:
Not only that—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 MSG
In the uncomfortable we find the comfortable. Others may question or seek answers in the mainstream, but as Christ followers we face truth head on knowing He applauds us. We find the truth when…
- We let go of the rope knowing Jesus is there to catch us.
- Our broken hearts feel the ache of loss and we find comfort in the embrace of God.
- We lose ourselves to who we are and in the process find contentment in Jesus.
- Our appetite is satisfied completely by God.
- We become care-full when we let others care for us.
- God teaches us to breathe in sync with Him and aligns our inside world with His outside world.
Each truth shares a part of the whole story that we find in Jesus. Our hearts become full in the push and pull of the world resulting in the satisfaction of Jesus. I spent the last few weeks wrestling with each challenge the Beatitudes brought and speculated how I fit into the truth being taught. Today I know I am better because I took the time to listen and hear His words. But I am a lifelong learner who will grapple with the truth as God molds me and calls me to follow and become more like Him.
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Will you allow God’s truth to mold and challenge you? How will you let God’s Word speak to you today?
Listening to God’s truth!
Click here to catch up on the whole Beatitude series. Thank you for joining me and sharing your own insights.
Thank you for the deeper insights into the Beatitudes, Mary. I enjoyed this series. Something just dawned on me when I read how we find the truth when we let go of the rope knowing Jesus is there to catch us. I thought of those pictures of a kitty or someone hanging onto a rope with the words “Hang in There.” I have often said that expression or sent that pic to people. Perhaps I could better have encouraged them to let go and fall into Jesus’ hands. You really have me reflecting about this. I LOVE these photos, too. So much hope of new life in them. I am longing for spring! 🙂 Love and hugs to you!
I am blessed that you journeyed with me as I shared insights and God’s challenge to us through the Beatitudes. Letting go of the rope sounds like the worst thing we could possibly do but it is the best when we know Jesus is there to catch us. I, too, have loved those graphics of cute animals asking us to hanging in there. How much better would we be if we actually let go?
It is always a treat to have you here. Your encouragement and gentle wisdom always adds so much. Love and hugs!
Thanks for adding your insights to the beatitudes. I also like Eugene Peterson’s “blessed… at the end of your rope.” You’re right. When we totally let go, we find new blessings and hope. But oh how hard to let go of the rope!
Eugene Peterson has a wonderful way of giving us perspective and truth while at the same time using God’s word to challenge us. May we let go knowing the landing is soft and full of blessings!
I’ve got no rope left to hold to; I can only fall in confidence.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/03/your-dying-spouse-283-how-can-i-help.html
Nothing but prayers my friend! May Jesus catch you in His amazingly strong arms!
I’ve really enjoyed this series so much Mary! Thank you for sharing!
I always love having you here Barbie! I am grateful you joined me and let God speak to you through these words.
I’m a lifelong learner too friend! Oh and I love the way the Message translates scripture. It always makes me really think about how it applies to my life.
The Message provides a different perspective that challenges me in a deeper way. It says it like it is but also is clear about showing us the way is always leading to Jesus. Thank you for joining me for this series.
This series has been such a blessing, Mary! We are all life-long learners when it comes to the things of God. So blessed to be walking this path with you, friend. Blessings on your Sabbath!
Thank you June. I have loved having you along for the this series. I love being a life-long learner and when it comes to God that is exactly where I should be. Praying your day and week are blessed.
This has been a wonderful series of going through the beatitude’s! That msg version of Matthew 5:11-12 was much needed blessing this morning to read.
I love that God gave you needed encouragement through His word this morning. He loves doing that for us, doesn’t he? Thank you for joining me in this journey. I pray your were blessed.
Thanks for expressing so well the reward of taking time to let Scripture read us while we are reading the inspired words. Whatever we’re reading, “the challenge and the answer” will be so much clearer to us if we give ourselves time — as you have with the Beatitudes! Thanks for taking me along on this wonderful journey!
It has been a blessing to have you walk with me for each post on the Beatitudes. Your insight and encouragement has been so welcome. I love when God opens our hearts to hear Him and learn more through His word. Thank you for being a faithful reader.
I have been so blessed as I’ve read your series here. These words are such a good summary: “Each beatitude rings true with a challenge and an answer of finding more of Jesus in the letting go.” And, it has been a different perspective for me also, reading these verses in The Message version. Several times, I had to go read the passage in my old familiar version, and compare the two. And I became so grateful for the stretching that God works in us as we let go and step out of the familiar to hear Him speak more fully. –Blessings to you!
You have blessed me by journeying along with me as I studied the Beatitudes. The Message version has opened up my heart to hearing God’s challenge and truth in a different way. It has been one beautiful lesson after another. I also referred back to older versions throughout. It is a joy to hear your perspective. Blessings Bettie!