Matthew 5:11-12 Amplified Bible
“Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me. Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Beatitudes are not conditions one must meet to earn entry into heaven. They are declarations of our being blessed and pronouncements of God’s immutable grace. The chance that any one person is going to meet all 8 conditions listed is pretty slim. It’s no different than the Ten Commandments. They were set up to shine a light on Israel’s sin and need of God to forgive them. These promises are exhibits of how we are under God’s umbrella of grace; however, the idea is that as we seek to be like Christ we will begin to live out these statements as a living illustration of our faith and trust in God.
Take the notion of mourning being a blessing in verse 4, for example. At the time of our loss our spirit is crushed, albeit temporarily. The blessing we have experienced in our state of mourning is that God has comforted us in some form or fashion. At that time you were probably emotionally numb, but if you allow your mind to comb over the details of the events following the loss you will find comfort somewhere you least expected it. That is the blessing and manifestation of the promise.
When things don’t go the way you want them to and they often times do not, allow your faith and trust in God to kick in and keep moving forward. You see, God knows the beginning from the end and all parts in between. The wheels of heaven are turning on our behalf. We just need to be patient and learn to wait for his open door. Until next time, walk with the one true king and be a blessing!
Resource: Theology of Work Bible Commentary.
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