There is a section of verses that appears early in Matthew’s gospel known as the Beatitudes or the Blessed Ares. They are part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. These poetic thoughts are unmatched for their comfort and encouragement. Jesus addresses them to believers like you and me. His message is profoundly intimate and personal. To this day Christians the world over return to these precious sayings to rediscover their capacity to provide refreshment and renewal.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
As you just read Jesus’ Blessed Ares, did you notice how powerfully they counter the temptation to play the role of the victim? How blessed we are in the endless flow of gifts that pour forth daily from a God who loves us and would do anything for us! To be so incredibly blessed, one can only come to the conclusion that he or she has triumphed over every adversary and overcome every obstacle to secure the ultimate victory. One can hardly be blessed in such abundance and still play the victim’s role. As members of God’s army of believers, we are winners. The apostle Paul wrote about the victor-not-victim mentality in similarly positive language to the congregation in Rome, where people were being martyred for their faith in Christ.
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. . . . What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died— more than that, who was raised to life—is at the 80 right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
The message of Jesus’ Blessed Ares penetrates deep into the conflicted hearts of sinner-saints like us. Over and over, we are blessed. We have it all!61 Eternal life. Sure hope. Complete forgiveness. Heaven’s glory. Lives with meaning and purpose. God’s friendship and love. Transcendent peace. But why?
Well, we certainly do not deserve it. In a fair and objective court of law, you and I would deserve just the opposite. We fight. We argue. We murder, slander, abuse, and curse anyone who dares to cross us. We are sinners— failures when it comes to meeting God’s expectations for perfection from the creatures who bear his image.62We ought to be cast into the fury of everlasting hatred. Yet in his grace, God has refused to let us become the victims of our own sinful hearts. We are his people, and he fought for us to the death, substituting his Son’s flawless life for ours.
Did you also notice that at least one of these extraordinary Blessed Ares is of special interest for battle-wearied, walking wounded like us? “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” That thought ought to resonate, or at least raise a serious question or two. For starters, who are these people—these so-called peacemakers? And why are they being singled out for such high commendation? Membership in God’s royal family is no small matter. His offspring will get special treatment. Their Father’s servants are at their beck and call. Wouldn’t you like to meet one of these peacemakers, so blessed to be counted among his heirs—inheritors of the royal heavenly realm?
You won’t have to go too far to find one. Jesus was talking about you. Are you a little surprised? Not many of us readily recognize ourselves in Jesus’ words. We know too much about the warlike thoughts that occupy our minds and the hatred that can take control of our hearts. Peacemaking is a little out of our league. Yet, Jesus here gives us a unique snapshot of our new man selves as we are now, even in this earthly realm.
Excerpt from Heart At Peace: Biblical Strategies for Christian Conflict, 2014 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.