What Does A Beatitude Follower Look Like?

It has taken me 11 weeks to study the 9 simple statements from Christ in Matthew 5. I’m glad I wasn't there when He threw out these sentences. I would be the student that teachers don’t like by raising my hand when Jesus was on number 8 and asking, “What was number 2 again?”  I’m a slow one in the Bible study area. Here are Jesus’ simple sentences. Or, here are Jesus’s hard to master sentences. This is what a happy beatitude follower looks like:

Beatitudes Matt. 5:2-16

1.    “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Be helpless without Him.)

2.    “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Be hopeless without Him.)

3.    “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Be humble like Him.)

4.   “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Be running toward Him.)

5.    “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (Be merciful because of Him.)

6.    “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Be pure because of Him.)

7.    “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Be gracious because of Him.)

8.    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

9.    ( Or maybe 8 & ½ ) “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Be ready to stand for Him.)

Salt and Light

 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. (Be ready to give the treasure of the gospel to everyone.)

 OK, I was back studying about being a peacemaker when My Pastor Wade in one of his sermons starting explaining about Christians being light and showing with their life the glory of God (Aug. 3). I wanted to shout, “STOP! I’m not there yet. I’m only on number 7. I’m at least 5 weeks away from being a light in the world!” But then I remembered our church’s web site has an archive. Whew! So now that I’m ready to study about being a light I can go back and hear the sermon again.  And we are all glad I didn't shout in the middle of My Pastor Wade’s sermon.

(Sept. 5 NOW in my study) “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Be shining His glory.)

My Pastor Wade’s sermon was from John 14 and 15 where Jesus is telling the disciples that He is leaving and will send the Holy Spirit in His place. Jesus said (John 15:26-27) “But when the Helper (Holy Spirit) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me. And you will also bear witness” The Holy Spirit lives in the Jesus believers to “clean us up” (that’s the way My Pastor Wade put it) “then shines the light of the glory of Christ so the world can see Jesus in us.”  We are a light to the world when we reflect the glory of Jesus by just being the cleaned up person God wants us to be. That’s how when people see us they will “Give glory to the Father who is in heaven.”

I will end my study the way My Pastor Wade ended His sermon:

“How are you shining for Jesus?”

How am I shining for Jesus?

Now, that’s what a happy beatitude follower looks like…Shiny!