Daily Devotional For Friday, September 13, 2024

Well, it’s Fantastic Friday and your weekend is almost here. We have been making our way through the greatest and most famous sermon ever – Jesus’ Sermon On The Mount. It is found in Matthew chapter 5, 6, & 7. We have specifically been looking at The Beatitudes over the last few weeks found in Matthew 5:3-12. If you are serious about living out these Beatitudes, here are two suggestions as spiritual advice that I hope will help you. 

First, do not attempt to start living all the Beatitudes at once. Discipleship is a process and I would encourage you to take on a Beatitude a week to focus on in your life. 

1. 1. For example, starting Sunday, focus on the first Beatitude in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (NASB). 

So, take September 15-21 to focus on this Beatitude. You can go back and read the devotionals on this first Beatitude that were on August 14 & 15 in these devotionals. 

1. Then for September 22-28, focus on the second Beatitude in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (NASB).The devotionals for those are August 16 & 17 on the church’s website. 
2. Then for September 29-October 5, the third Beatitude in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (NASB). The devotionals for this one are for August 18 & August 19. 
3. Then for October 6-12, read the focus on the fourth Beatitude, which is Matthew 5:6,“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (NASB). The devotions for this one are found on August 20, 21, & 22. 
4. Then for October 13-19, focus on the fifth Beatitude, which is Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (NASB).. The devotions for this are August 23, 24 25 & 26.
5. Then for October 20-26, focus on the sixth Beatitude, which is Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (NASB). The devotions for this are August 27, 28, 29 & 30.  
6. Then for October 27-November 2, focus on the seventh Beatitude, which is Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (NASB),  The devotions for this are August 31-September 3. 
7. Then for November 3-10, focus on the eighth Beatitude, which is Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (11)  “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (12)  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (NASB). You can find the devotions for this one are November 3-9. 

Second, take some time to compare Jesus’ standard for us to live with the world’s for each Beatitude you do. As you listen to music, watch TV or are on the Internet, ask yourself which system of values you are going to follow, obey and do. 

Jesus gave us these Beatitudes. He said that those who do them are “Blessed.” Jesus refers to three types of blessedness: first, a broken blessedness, second a future blessedness and third, a selfless blessedness. That is what these 8 Beatitudes are all about. We have been reading, applying hopefully these to our lives. I agree with pastor and author John Stott, who summarizes well  teaching on this when he says:

“The beatitudes set forth the balanced and variegated character of Christian people. These are not eight separate and distinct groups of disciples … rather eight qualities of the same group.… Further, the group exhibiting these marks is not an elitist set” (Source: John Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, p. 31).

Let me end with a simple question with a very obvious answer, but perhaps a question and answer you have never thought about before: can you think of anyone you know who has perfectly lived out these beatitudes? Well, you might say, every Christian I know—who is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit—to some extent or another lives out these beatitudes. Yes, that’s true. But it’s true only to an extent, which we all know. Why? None of us are perfect. We sin and fail at them at times. We all know that only Jesus embodies the Beatitudes perfectly! Right?

I like what New Testament scholar Douglas Sean O’Donnell writes on this:

Jesus was poor in spirit, though not the same way we are (due to our sin). But He did, while on earth, daily depend on God the Father and Spirit for everything. That’s why He prayed. That’s why He did and said nothing that was not in accordance with the Father’s will. That’s why in greatest humility He became a human and was crucified. And Jesus mourned, didn’t He? He mourned NOT over his own sin, for He had none, but over our sin—the sins of the world. He wept over Jerusalem and her rejection of the good news. And wasn’t our Lord the mightiest but also the meekest man, who offered a gentle yoke to all who would call him “Lord”? 

And didn’t He hunger and thirst for God’s righteous rule to come, which is why, on the one hand, He overturned the tables and, on the other hand, received sinners in table fellowship? And didn’t He show mercy in healing and feeding the multitudes and in forgiving sins? And who was more pure in heart, undivided in His commitment to God’s will? And wasn’t (and isn’t) Jesus the ultimate peacemaker as He brought peace through His own outstretched arms—peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between God and man? And finally, who better embodied the last beatitude? From the moment of his first breath to His last, more than any figure in human history, Jesus was persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Source: Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Preaching The Word Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” pp. 115-116).

• Jesus embodied this broken blessedness! We see this Matthew 27:28-31, “They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. (29) And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (30) They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. (31) After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
• Jesus embodied this future blessedness as seen in Hebrews 12:2-3, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (NASB).
• And Jesus embodied this selfless blessedness as seen Philippians 2:6-8, “Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (8) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (NASB).

Chuck Swindoll says this about the word “blessed.” “Jesus says “blessed” are those who live out The Beatitudes. “Blessed" means “fortunate,” “contented,” “blissful,” “privileged,” “peaceful,” “serene,” “joyful,” and “happy.”  We might define it as “an inward contentment or abiding joy unaffected by outer circumstances.” The Beatitudes are pronouncements, not possibilities. They are statements of celebration, like the worshipful psalms or parts of the Wisdom Literature, not commands, like the Law of Moses dictated from Mount Sinai” (Source: Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary,” Matthew” Vol. 1a, p. 87).

So then, the Beatitudes according to New Testament scholar Bruce Barton can be summarized this way for us today.

•  “They present a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct for all believers,
• They contrast kingdom values (what is eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary),
• They contrast the superficial “faith” of the Pharisees with the real faith that Christ wants, and
• They show how the future kingdom will fulfill Old Testament expectations” (Source: Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary, “Matthew,” P. 73).

Questions To Consider

1. Would you consider taking one Beatitude a week to work on in your own life? Why or why not?
2. Other than Jesus, who do you know that lives out these Beatitudes consistently and faithfully? Take time to thank them and ask them what discipleship disciplines they have developed that help them do this.
3. Jesus said the disciple who lives out these Beatitudes is “blessed.” How do you know you really want this “blessedness” in your own life from Jesus Christ?  What does that mean to you? If you need help, read the devotional for August 13, 2024 on this. 
4. How do you think you can personify broken blessedness, future blessedness and selfless blessedness in your own life?
5. The Beatitudes were not just for Jesus’ original disciples, but to all disciples – to everyone who calls themself a Christian. Why do you think so many Christian fail to live these out? How could you help other Christians begin to live these out in their lives?

Scripture To Meditate On: John 14:23-24, “Jesus replied, `All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them. (24) Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me” (NLT). 

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I need Your help in discipling my life to even attempt to take one Beatitude a week to work on in my life. I often have great intentions, but I often lose motivation. Please create a burning passion in me for You. I want to have all three blessednesses in my life: broken, future and sacrificial. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly