“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew 5:11-12 NLT
Jesus’ most famous sermon, the one he not only lived but spoke about everywhere he went, describes a very different life for us to try to live out today. It is super antithetical to our culture in the U.S. He gives us a loss list, one that we are to not only look for but emulate and celebrate.
God blesses those who: are poor and realize their need for him, humble, hunger and thirst for justice, merciful, whose hearts are pure, who work for peace, who are persecuted for doing right.
These character and attitude traits yield favor from God and each come with their own unique benefit: the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs, comfort, inherit the earth, satisfied, be shown mercy, they will see God, they will be called the children of God.
In this world, in this culture, these attributes are almost completely shunned and let’s be honest, people would see this kind of lifestyle as reserved for losers – not winners! Yet Christ continuously warns us that the Kingdom of God is not anything like the kingdom of this earth. The kingdom of this earth is run by sin-fractured souls in cooperation with the prince of darkness, the Slanderer himself.
Jesus drops a sober reminder, the ancient prophets (spokespersons) were persecuted in the same way. It is very anti-social to live the loss list that Jesus recommends for the BLESSED life. I just don’t see that hashtag on TikTok or Reels reflecting Jesus #1 sermon.
Prayer
Dad,
Whew. I struggle with feeling successful or even righteous living your loss list. To be poor, humble, working for peace and persecuted for doing right? These are ideals I try to stay away from because of the deep heartache and turmoil they seem to bring. Living this loss list would force me to long for the Kingdom of heaven to arrive and accomplish your will far faster that I do now. I’d be overwhelmed trying to live out even one of these qualities, let alone all seven of them. Oh God, I need you to help me see what you see and live towards your ways and not my own. This changes how I view the “blessed” life for sure.