What makes people happy? If we asked people you know, what kind of answers would they say? How would you answer? What would make you really happy?
The Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-20) outline nine scenarios for the Blessed Life. This Blessed Life has deep joy that doesn’t depend on easy circumstances. In fact, Jesus has a long list of life goals that seem upside down for us: poverty of spirit, sorrow, humility and submission, persecution and insults. Not many of us would list those as goals for ourselves or our children. And yet, Jesus leads us to a satisfying life that begins by recognizing our need for HIM. When we see our need for a Savior, grieve over sin, and submit our strength to God’s control, we discover a Blessed Life. A Blessed Life that sustains and strengthens us through the ups and downs of life.
The things that we strive for in our world so often fade and disappear. Jesus offers a Blessed Life that weathers the storms of life and leads us to deep joy.
Marcia Marquardt