Disciples are Blessed

Matthew 5:1-12 NIV.

[Series on: The Blessed]

How would you describe a blessed and happy life? One of my friends believes there’s only one happy person each week, the lottery winner, and the rest of us just have make-believe happiness. Maybe you share my friend's view or have your own picture of happiness. The Bible also has its own picture, and in this short series on the Blessed we'll see who are the blessed of Scripture.

In today's passage, Jesus gathers His disciples to the mountainside, away from the crowd and teaches them what a truly blessed and happy life—beatitude—looks like. Jesus shows that a blessed life is the life of a disciple, those who are:

Poor in spirit (v3, Psalm 42:1; 63:1): who depend on God in everything.
Mourning (v4, Isaiah 61:2-3): who seek God’s rescue/forgiveness by repentance.
Meek (v5, Psalm 37:9-11): who humbly wait for the Lord amidst life’s uncertainties.
Hungry for righteousness (v6, Psalm 1:1-2): who swap worldly cravings for godly cravings.
Merciful (v7, Luke 6:36): who extend the mercy received from God to others.
Pure in heart (v8, Psalm 24:3-4): who seek to please God in everything.
Peacemakers (v9, Psalm 34:14): who seek peace and pursue it.
Persecuted for righteousness (v10, Psalm 59:3-5): who suffer for godliness; for loving Jesus.

Whatever anyone may think of a disciple, too spiritual or emotional or too weird or naively letting people off easily or turning the world upside down, Jesus says of those disciples, “Blessed are you” (v11), “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (vv 3, 5, 10; Revelations 5:10).

In this life, those who follow Jesus may navigate faith with struggles. Some might lean more on God’s comfort and mercy. And others might only ever know a life of waiting for a certain promise. Whatever the journey of such a disciple in this life, Jesus says, in the very end, His Father’s kingdom is theirs. Jesus says to them, rejoice; blessed are you! (v11-12)

Every form of happiness is fleeting, even that of lottery. You can win a lottery today, be very happy today, but have a very miserable future. But for a disciple, their future is always of hope (Jeremiah 29:11), it's a life blessed today because it's blessed to the end. And that's the kind of life we find in Jesus.

Reflect & Pray

How does Jesus’ description of a blessed life encourage you? How might Jesus’ template of discipleship help you grow?

Father, help us continue as disciples, knowing we are blessed to be, in Jesus' name, amen.

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.

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