Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. [Matthew 5:3-9 (NIV)]
I don’t know about you, but I’m about ready to unplug the televisions until after the elections in November. It doesn’t matter which party or which candidate, the conduct and rhetoric has become nearly unbearable. Today’s Bible reading took me to Matthew 5 and the Beatitudes—those declarations of blessedness given by Jesus at the beginning of His Sermon on the Mount. I couldn’t help but contrast His words with the behavior of our politicians, their supporters and the news media. I then remembered A.W. Tozer’s observation that, if we were to take the Beatitudes and turn them inside out, we’d have the “very qualities which distinguish human life and conduct.”
Our society doesn’t seem to admire those who are modest and meek; we seem to prefer those filled with bombast and swagger. Rather than grief and heartache at our failures, we prefer witticisms, applause and celebration of our successes. Rather than meekness, humility and respectful behavior, we seem to favor assertiveness and pretentiousness. Instead of seeking justice, we pursue self-interest; instead of striving to rectify wrongs, intolerance seems to reign. Rather than compassion, there is indifference and vindictiveness instead of forgiveness. Deceit, guile and vulgarity are more prevalent than frankness, honesty, and morality and it appears that we admire instigators and agitators more than conciliators and negotiators.
Although there has been a large amount of condemnation, disparagement and attempts to discredit one another, I don’t think Jesus was thinking about that sort of mocking and persecution when he gave His message and I doubt that God is blessing anyone for their abysmal behavior just because it results in their disgrace or embarrassment. If we expect blessings for persecution, it should be for following Jesus and righteousness sake and not for pursuing power and self-righteousness.
Pride, greed, selfishness, arrogance, ruthlessness, dishonesty, bickering, and meanness—all of these are contrary to the Beatitudes. I admit that I need to remove the plank in my eye before criticizing the specks in the eyes of others and confess that much of my life is also spent on the opposite side of the Beatitudes. I imagine a part of your life is spent there as well. Let us never forget that Jesus’s words were neither His suggestions nor His opinions—they were and are God’s Truth.
Lord…Deliver me from the urge to compete with another for place or prestige or position. … Deliver me from pose and pretense. Forgive me for thinking of myself. Help me forget myself and find my true peace in beholding Thee. That Thou mayest answer this prayer I humble myself before Thee. Lay upon me Thy easy yoke of self-forgetfulness that through it I may find rest. [A.W. Tozer]
Devotions of the Heart 