For My Sake

Matthew 5:1-12

These verses are for the blessed:

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Blessed are those that mourn

Blessed are the meek

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

Blessed are the merciful

Blessed are the pure in heart

Blessed are the peace makers

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you falsely saying all kinds of evil against you

Because of Me

As I read and study these verses I realized Christ is addressing these words to those who know the truth.  In John 14:6 Jesus states I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the father but by me.  As I go through this list of the blessed ones I see a pattern of growth:

Poor in spirit – see our sinful condition as it is hopeless.

Mourn – how can I live in this sinful state?

Meek – humble our self before God.

Who hunger and thirst for righteousness – seek after a way to be rid of our sinfulness.

Merciful – recognize that others are like us and need to be shown the truth.

Pure in heart- realized that forgiveness is looking to Christ.

Peace makers – sharing this truth with others.

Persecuted because of righteousness – refusing to conform to the world’s ways but stay truth to the truth.

 People insult you and persecute you falsely saying all kinds of evil against you – taking a firm stand against the ways of the world and proclaiming the truth for Christ sake and not your sake.

As I look at these verses I realized that I must see myself as a sinner needing God’s forgiveness and transformation.  This forgiveness and transformation only comes through the perfect sacrifice that was made on the cross by Christ.  I may not understand the reasoning behind this gift from God; but the peace and the transformation in my life after I believe is undeniable.  Verse twelve reveals the wonder of having the Son in your life “rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven”.  The mission of Christ was to seek and to save that which was lost.  I now must proclaim His message to the world by the way I live.