Prayer is a wonderful place to pursue justice, persistence in prayer rather than letting the enemy steal, kill and destroy God`s justice in the world.
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1. God blesses those who are poor and realise their need of Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
2. God blesses those who mourn for they will be comforted
3. God blesses those who are humble for they will inherit the whole earth
4. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied
5. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy
6. God blesses those who’s hearts are pure for they will see God
7. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God
8. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
9. 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 great reward awaits you in Heaven.
The Holy Spirit knows us very well and He knows the hooks that will get our attention. For all of us it is different, after all God made us and so He also knows what interests us and will get us listening at times when He wants to speak to us. I know I have mentioned scenes from the TV series The Chosen before, but the Lord does keep using some of its scenes to really focus me on things He wants me to see differently. This time it was during one scene when Jesus is preparing the sermon on the mount and Matthew is writing it down. They are discussing the order of the sections of teaching in the sermon on the mount (a lot of dramatic licence here I think, not sure this would have happened but who knows. I try to remember what Jesus says to us when He advises us not to disregard the message because we struggle to accept the messenger).
Anyway back to the scene. Jesus finally says to Matthew I`ve got it, the opening of the sermon. It is a map; directions where people should look to find me. Jesus then dictates the verses I`ve quoted above, and Matthew says but how is it a map? Jesus replies, if someone wants to find me those are the groups of people they should look for. Well; this stopped me in my tracks, it flipped the whole beatitude section for me. There was I thinking that they were nice little encouraging verses for us if we feel we need to be reassured of the way God sees us. But what if we think of them as a blueprint for the way we are to be used as a map to show the world the way to Jesus. This obviously posed me with the question, what kind of map am I?
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1. Do I recognise that I am poor (poor in spirit and have no sufficiency of my own) and realize my need of Him every day and seek for His sufficiency alone. Or is the direction I am giving one of, I can do this myself or I`ve got this. Rather than illustrating that without God I can do nothing.
2. Do I mourn? Am I sad at the enormous sense of loss the world experiences every day they live without the Lord. For how will I receive the comfort of directing someone to the Lord if I am not living in the awareness of the state of bereavement they are in, living without Jesus in their lives. I confess I don’t always keep this thought front and centre.
3. Humility, well almost enough said. I looked up the attributes of healthy humility. *They acknowledge they don’t have it all together * They know the difference between confidence and pride *They seek to add value to others * They take responsibility for their own actions * They understand the shadowy side of success * They are filled with gratitude for what they have. Humility is a tall order so I realised I need Gods help to remain humble
4. Hunger and thirst for Justice. Do I really huger and thirst for this. I think sometimes I`m happier just letting things pass and not really pursuing Gods Justice in a situation. Prayer is a wonderful place to pursue justice, persistence in prayer rather than letting the enemy steal, kill and destroy God`s justice in the world. Lord help me to hunger and thirst for Justice so I will be a encouragement for others to pursue it also. After all it says; all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing.
5. Merciful. Simple really, being merciful and seeking the good in people rather than being judgemental. This can sometimes be a real challenge. But the greater challenge is, do the people of the world see me as merciful, if I am to be a map pointing the way to Jesus, who is so full of mercy and grace, then I must display mercy in my daily dealings with others
6. Keeping a pure heart. I have to take control of my thinking, Philippians 4:8 says clearly “And now dear brothers and sisters one final thing; Fix your thoughts on what is true, honourable, and right, and pure and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise “ this takes discipline but really does bring its own rewards
7. Peace isn’t just the absence of war. To be at true peace with each other we often have to work at it. I need to pray that my own thoughts and desires are brought into submission for the sake of the greater peace. Becoming a peacemaker takes patience and understanding and the willingness to intervene to bring peace about. The world sees when we do this but more importantly the spirit of division and discord cannot abide when we actively intervene to bring God`s peace into a situation, either by prayer or action
8. Lord let me stand out or be persecuted for doing the right thing in your eyes rather than celebrated for doing the right thing in the world`s eyes. Then I will be a true map directing people to you
9. We can expect to be mocked, persecuted and lied about because we do these things as we stand up for and follow the Lord. They did the same to Him so we are no different. But the challenge to me is be happy about it, be very glad (not always an easy thing to do and challenging, but the reward is great. Its really about my `future focus` not my present comforts)
Sorry to be so wordy but it amazes me how a simple one liner in a tv show can explode when the Holy Spirit starts to challenge you. We are to be a map! If someone was trying to find Jesus, am I actively participating in one or more of the groups they are looking for who will give good and clear direction to the way of finding Jesus for themselves. Honestly! it’s a challenge. However, the Lord does back this one liner up in scripture. Verse 14 says
You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts in under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let you good deeds shine out for all to see, to that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father (or be directed to Him)
Lord help me to be a distinctive and easy to follow map, directing lost people to you today.
Author: Jan Pearson
May God bless and enrich your life
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