Series: \u201cLiving towards Life\u201d<\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong>Part 2\u00a0 – Faithfully<\/a> ________________________<\/p>\n Intro – The law of the Beatitudes<\/strong><\/p>\n When we start reading Matthew 5, we may be caught up dwelling in high moral standard it brings. More so, thinking about the many ways in which we are NOT living up to them. Did you have that kind of feeling going through the Beatitudes during the Gospel Reading? \u201cOh my, and I thought I was a good Christian\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Let\u2019s recap some of them:<\/p>\n \u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.\u201d Is this how you feel when you lose someone? The unfortunate fact about this list is that you may clear this or that topic, but you eventually trample and fall in one of them. Then St James comes in to tell you, \u201cIf you fail in one commandment, you broke the entire Law.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n And the news for you keeps getting worse: it ramps up from here. When you go home, read the rest of chapter 5, plus 6 and 7, see the other standards Jesus sets for the commandments to be completely convinced that you have failed the test.<\/p>\n It seems to be a cul-de-sac, a no-win situation. And it will always be,<\/em> if that is the only way we approach Jesus\u2019 Beatitudes as they are called. We may be tempted to approach the text and draw a message about behaviour and moral standards only<\/em>. \u201cHere is how you should behave and here\u2019s your prize if you do so.\u201d<\/p>\n We need to go beyond. For when we read the text as it is written, we see more. For example, did you notice the tense of the verb to be? Does it say, \u201cBlessed will<\/em> be\u201d or \u201cblessed are\u201d<\/em>?<\/p>\n The first good news coming is Jesus saying, \u00a0\u201cBlessed are<\/strong>\u201d. He is stating a present reality. You are blessed for being so and so, therefore you are an heir to the life eternal. As we saw, all the rewards Jesus mentions refer primarily to the Life to come.<\/p>\n This is where our theme for November connects, Living towards Life<\/strong>. The Sermon on the Mountain is one of the many biblical passages where we find how we live this life while we walk toward Life \u2013 Eternal. We find also that living in Christ doesn\u2019t only let us know this truth about life and death in the distant future. It also impacts our whole life already here, today, now<\/em>.<\/p>\n How do Jesus say you live your life towards Life? He says that you live as a blessed person<\/strong>. This is how you live: blessed. You don\u2019t have to fight for it, conquer it, deserve it. You don\u2019t behave your way into that condition – you wouldn\u2019t be able to anyways. You are Blessed. Jesus says, blessed are you, Hope worshippers, who are meek, pure at heart, hungry for justice and everything else. How so? Because this blessedness is a gift of God<\/strong>. As you Live towards life<\/strong> you know that you already have the blessing of belonging to a God that knows you are s sinner, forgives your sins, and makes you a blessed person.<\/p>\n To be a blessed person means to live as one who has received the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life, <\/strong>even in the midst of hardship. Blessed are those who live in Christ, with all the joys, challenges, and sufferings that come with it. Jesus assures us that, no matter the circumstance, we are blessed in Him.<\/p>\n In the Bible and Lutheran Confessions, “blessed” refers to be recipient of grace and favor granted from God, not based on personal merit or achievement, but as a gift from Him. To be blessed means to be chosen, loved, and forgiven by God, regardless of life circumstances or personal struggles<\/strong>. Jesus speaks of blessedness not as a reward for good behavior, but as a divine condition that comes from God\u2019s love, grace, and mercy.<\/p>\n More details about what being a blessed person means:<\/strong><\/p>\n These descriptions remind us that being blessed is not about earthly achievements but about being part of God\u2019s eternal kingdom. Also, they aren\u2019t the usual descriptions of being \u201cblessed.\u201d, right? We often are tempted to associate being blessed with prosperity, health, family, career success, education, and many more. We hear \u201cI\u2019m so blessed!\u201d utilized to celebrate great life moments or achievements that we credit to God.<\/p>\n As we should celebrate all good things that come from God, we shouldn\u2019t overlook the reality of struggles, challenges, and even suffering. When we encounter trials, we may not immediately say, \u201cI\u2019m blessed.\u201d But Jesus, in today\u2019s Gospel, assures us that we are blessed\u2014even in hardship. Why? Because they are signs of a faith alive in Christ.[2]<\/a> The text doesn\u2019t tell you that \u201cBlessed used to be those\u201d, nor \u201cBlessed will be those\u201d, not even \u201cBlessed becomes the one who\u201d. Blessed are<\/strong>. As you live towards life, you live as a blessed person \u2013 in the full force, joy, challenge and hardship that this word brings to your life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As we hear all about being blessed \u2013 it comes from Jesus, everything is a gift, and we can\u2019t merit it -, the temptation is to stop at \u201cI\u2019m saved by grace through faith, and my great reward is Life eternal.\u201d And then conclude, \u201cas I live towards that Life, paying or not paying attention to Jesus\u2019 words it\u2019s just a detail\u201d. But that is not what the Bible teaches. Faith is very real, very practical, and deeply woven in our daily relationships, choices and connections. When we contrast the Beatitudes with much of what the World presents to us, we understand our unique and blessed positions of light bearers and saltshakers of the world living towards Life:<\/p>\n _The world says, \u201cBlessed are you when you don\u2019t regret anything you said, never apologizing, and you live with your head up.\u201d Jesus says: \u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven<\/strong>.\u201d This perspective illustrates the fact that we live with the End in Mind, <\/strong>for Christ impacts both our future hope and our life here and now. How? Think about building a house, starting college, or beginning a trip. We start these things with the end goal in mind;<\/em> we don\u2019t set out without knowing where we\u2019re headed, otherwise we are setting ourselves up for failure. Our Christian life is the same\u2014we begin and we continue on with the end in mind \u2013 the Life that has no end. Eternal life doesn\u2019t begin only after we die. It begins at baptism or conversion<\/strong>, when we become Christ\u2019s own, and Jesus assures us that whoever believes in Him already has eternal life. As you are rooted in Christ, you are already blessed, no matter your circumstance. You already have the promise of life eternal. [4]<\/a><\/p>\n On All Saints Day, we remember those whose end has already come. Well, the end of their life here, for life never ends. They lived as blessed person on Christ, and now they share the blessed bliss of the presence of our Saviour. This inspires us, as we live with that end in mind, to walk in Christ and with him today, tomorrow, until the end.<\/p>\n Cc \u2013<\/strong> For we are living towards Life<\/strong>. We are encouraged to engage in a life of faith that reflects our hope in Christ in the promise of eternal life. In Christ we have forgiveness of sins, salvation, and a life in His presence. We live rooted in faith, shaped by grace, and focused on Christ. Therefore, we can say with faith, courage and hope every day: \u201cI am blessed!\u201d<\/p>\n __________________________<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10, ESV)<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> This living faith is marked by several characteristics:<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Part 3 – Focused<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth \u2013 is meekness one of your strengths, truly?<\/strong> What about discussing a hot topic in the family?
\n<\/strong>\u201cBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied\u201d \u2013 I know you want justice to be done, but how often do you hunger for it? What do you do to promote in your daily practice?
\n<\/strong>Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God \u2013 Pure are heart?<\/strong> Here I think I got everyone in<\/strong>.
\nBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God \u2013 If it is about a topic I disagree with, then I\u2019ll be vocal and promote fire instead of peace.
\n<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cBlessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 <\/strong>Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. \u00a0Who doesn\u2019t like a good persecution, right? The prophets were so courageous, I would do the same, I will stand for God even if that would cost me my reputation and my life\u2026 Only that when practical situations come, we are not always so eager to let the light shine. <\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe GOSPEL of the Beatitudes <\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\nBlessed in daily life<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n_The world says, \u201cdon\u2019t talk about death, it is the end of everything. Let\u2019s celebrate life only \u2013 unless if it is a person at the beginning or at the end of life, then you can celebrate death.\u201d Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.<\/strong>\u201d
\n_The world says, \u201cYou don\u2019t need to change a thing, others can change their heart. Be authentic and fight. The strong rule the world\u201d. Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.\u201d
\n<\/strong>_The world sometimes says, \u201cJustice and righteousness are defined by the type of the ideology you embrace\u201d. Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.\u201d
\n<\/strong>_<\/strong>The world many times says, \u201cYou committed a mistake? We will expose, and even if you show repentance, we will just double down. We will print the screen, and that stays forever.\u201d Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.\u201d
\n<\/strong>_The world says quite frequently, \u201cThere are second intentions and ulterior motives in everything, don\u2019t trust your own shadow\u201d. Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.<\/strong>\u201d
\n_The World sometimes says, \u201cSue. Always.\u201d Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.\u201d
\n<\/strong>_The world today says, \u201cDo you still hold on to that old book? Is it really worthy all of this? Come on, this is the XXI Century!\u201d Jesus says, \u201cBlessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
\n<\/strong>It is a completely different perspective of being blessed. It formats your life and gives direction to your steps. You live towards life carrying in your chest the faith that saves you, shapes you and will carry you until the end. [3]<\/a><\/strong> It is the perspective of those who were redeemed by Christ\u2019s blood on His Cross and receive the promise of resurrection when he killed death and rose again.<\/p>\n\n