Matthew 5:1-12, The Message
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
So pretty quickly, Jesus’s new public ministry begins to attract large crowds. After all, he was healing diseases and casting out demons. People were traveling 3-4 days on foot to come to see him. At one point, Jesus sees these massive crowds and decides to speak to as many as possible. He gathers them on a mountainside and gives what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount. The teachings in this section of Matthew (chapters 5-7) form the core teachings of the Gospel. And at the core of the sermon is what has become known as the Beatitudes, our passage for today. It is a description of what the kingdom Jesus is preaching looks like when it takes over in the life of a believer.
I recommend reading The Message translation of these familiar words to make them a bit less familiar. When we encounter something we’ve read or heard many times before, we tend to skip through it. Our familiarity with the words becomes a stumbling block to hearing a fresh word from God in that moment. I invite us to work at avoiding that here, hence the reason for the unfamiliar rendering of this scripture. I trust you already read it once. Go back and read it again. . . this time. . .slowly. Think about each word. But before you do pray this prayer; “Lord, speak to my heart.” Now, go read it again. I’ll wait here until you come back.
I pray and trust that something in this beautiful passage finds your heart. If not, read it one more time. Whatever it is, spend some time just repeating that sentence or phrase that connected with you. Then ask yourself these questions:
Question: Why do I think that God wanted me to hear these words this day? What do I need to do next, it anything?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for the words of this message you gave that day on the mountain. May your words and teachings continue to shape my heart and the way I live my life. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray for those who have never heard the words of scripture.
Song: Word of God, Speak – MercyMe
Weekday Word w/ Eric 
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