The Inconvenient Truth
1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. 6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. 7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. 8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete orfight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's
family. 10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. 11 "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for
comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens - give
a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds.
And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always
gotten into this kind of trouble.
What Jesus taught His discipes is counter-cultural. For instance, the world doesn't think we're blessed if we are content with who we are - it tells us we need more! Or it tells us that the people who care will be taken advantage of. Would the world tell you to think of the time when you lose what is dearest to you as an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, or if you're at the end of your rope, to let Him in to your life?
I think this translation gives us a clearer idea of how to actually live in the reality of God's kingdom - it's available to us now if we live as Jesus teaches and not as the world tells us to live.
Labels: Sermon on the Mount
posted by Jewels @ 3:01 PM
2 Comments:
I am looking forward to this series on the Sermon on the Mount. As I listened to Pastor Amy Sunday morning I thought how easy and comfortable we can become in our faith. While our faith should comfort us and it should be child-like, it also should be challenging and provoking. Pastor Amy said it well this morning.
I suppose with Jewels in the Netherlands we have to bumble around without her input. It occurred to me today when Pastor Henry helped us look at "You are the salt of the earth" that when Jesus addressed his followers he didn't ask, would you like to be the salt of the earth? He said you are already the salt of the earth. Thats who we are when we follow Jesus therefore what are we going to do with it?
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