Explicitly Absent, Implicitly There (Part 3)

Scripture:  Matthew 5:1-3a - “And seeing the multitudes, He, Jesus, went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: and He opened His mouth and taught them, saying, ‘Blessed…’.  Matthew 5: 1-3a

When ‘the best is yet to come’, as  that modern expression goes, and when the promise seems aligned with the trend of facts, we tend to persevere differently, especially when the pronouncement comes from a high authority.  Our waiting tends to be optimistic, our hope bolder, and there  might even be a bit of pep in our step, even happiness.

However, the expression may fall flat, when ‘yet to come’ is far off, or the ‘best’ ain’t so grand anymore. With enough fatigue, one might even drift away from the authority, as just another voice.

‘The Beatitudes’ from the Sermon on the Mount offers us a snapshot of ‘Before’ and ‘After’, where the not-so-great now is contrasted with the later, as it all connects with ‘Blessed’. And what blessedness does not connect with gratitude?

THANKSGIVING and BLESSEDNESS GO HAND IN HAND.

It has been said “2020 has marked the greatest period of uncertainty and…volatility our generation has ever faced.” Even this does not preclude ‘blessedness’, or grateful worship and praise. The Beatitudes actually prepares believers to anticipate  this surly season, by which we can ‘fight with joy’.

Jesus is connecting blessedness with ‘the poor in spirit’, those that ‘mourn’, those that ‘hunger and thirst’[after righteousness], the ‘merciful’, the ‘pure’, the ‘peacemakers’, those ‘persecuted’[for righteousness], and those that are reviled, and lied about. [v.3-11]
Jesus leads us to appreciate delayed gratification, to know that blessing is to come.  His point, to stand upon the promise, to declare.

Times may get tough, but, in Jesus, we are built for the tilt!

We are the salt of the earth… we are the light of the world. [13a, 14a]

…because of the grace of God.

Prayer:  I Pray THANKFULNESS precede each leap with readied ankles, feet, and shoes,
To plan with hope on Heaven’s truths, to fly freed of all earthly blues: And bare each song, loud all day long, our coming home as sure, With, on our lips, sweet Jesus’ Name, believing making pure!  Thank You Lord! Amen.

 (Dr. McNeal Brockington)