Matthew 5:9 (The Message)
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.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
I like how it says, "show people how to cooperate", not just tell. I wonder why, specifically, being a peace maker would show me who I am and my place in God's family?
Parallel scriptures
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
That same word, "peace", used in Matthew 5:9 to describe who we should be is used here to describe who God is. He instigated peace with mankind through the sending Jesus to die for us. Do I instigate peace with others? Or do I insist on having things my way?
2 Corinthian 5: 16-20 (The Message)
Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Here that "peace" is translated settled between parties. It's that same theme again; as God, through Christ, settled the relationship between us and Him, we are supposed to settle our relationships with one another. That's so easy to say but so hard to do in lots of situations He even goes on to say here that part of our work on earth is to help people drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. As I look at Christianity historically, we've really failed here. But may, even today, I be part of the solution.
Other People's thoughts
McGarvey and Pendleton:
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. The term "peacemakers" includes all who make peace between men, whether as individuals or as communities. It includes even those who worthily endeavor to make peace, though they fail of success. They shall be called God's children, because he is the God of peace (Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20 2 Corinthians 13:11); whose supreme purpose is to secure peace (Luke 2:14); and who gave his Son to be born into this world as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Here again Jesus varies from human ideas. In worldly kingdoms the makers of war stand highest, but in his kingdom peacemakers outrank them, for the King himself is a great Peacemaker (Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 2:14). "
I appreciate their point that we are blessed when we endeavor to make peace even if we fail. We are only responsible for our own behavior
John Gill:
Blessed are the peace makers,.... Not between God and man, for no man can make his own peace with God; nor can any mere creature, angels, or men, make it for him; Christ, in this sense, is the only peace maker: but between men and men; and such are they, who are of peaceable dispositions themselves; live peaceably with all men, and with one another, as their relation obliges to, and their mutual comfort requires; and with the men of the world; and who are ready, willing, and very serviceable, in composing differences, and making peace between their fellow creatures and fellow Christians. The Jews speak very highly, and much, in the commendation of peace making; they reckon this among the things which shall be of use to a man, both in this, and the other world. "These are the things, (say they {e},) the fruit of which a man enjoys in this world, and his lot or portion remains for him in the world to come; honouring father and mother, liberality, wrybxl Mda Nyb Mwlv tabhw, 'and making peace between a man and his neighhour.'" This, they say , Aaron was much disposed to. "Moses used to say, let justice break through the mountain; but Aaron loved peace, and pursued it, and made peace between a man and his neighhour, as is said, Malachi 2:6" Hence that saying of Hillell , "be thou one of the disciples of Aaron, who loved peace, and followed after it; he loved men, and brought them to the law." Now of such persons it is said, that they shall be called the children of God; that is, they are the children of God by adopting grace, which is made manifest in their regeneration; and that is evidenced by the fruits of it, of which this is one; they not only shall be, and more manifestly appear to be, the sons of God hereafter; but they are, and are known to be so now, by their peaceable disposition, which is wrought in them by the Spirit of God; whereby they become like to the God of peace, and to Christ, the great and only peacemaker, and so are truly sons of peace"
I like the quote from Hillell about Aaron loving peace and bringing people to the law. May my love of peace and how I treat people, bring them to God's law and to Jesus.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Matthew 5:8
Matthew 5:8 The Message
You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
Matthew 5:8 KJV
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
I like how the Message translation explains pure in heart as when your get your heart and mind put right. I'm convinced that God is all around us and that His footprints are everywhere; it's just that I so frequently miss it. Sometimes I'm so filled with me, my goals, my to-do list, my plans that I miss Him.
Other scriptures parallel to Matthew 5:8
Psalm 17:15
(NLT)
Because I am righteous, I will see you.
When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
What others say about this passage:
John Wesley:
"The pure in heart - The sanctified: they who love God with all their hearts. They shall see God - In all things here; hereafter in glory."
He's also pointing to how it's Jesus who makes us pure. But then he goes on to infer that we will be filled with love for God because of what He's done for us and as we love Him more we see more of Him.
Matthew Henry:
" The pure in heart are happy; for they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. Create in me such a clean heart, O God. None but the pure are capable of seeing God, nor would heaven be happiness to the impure. As God cannot endure to look upon their iniquity, so they cannot look upon his purity"
I especially like what he says about the heart must be purified by faith and kept for God. Every day I have choices about where I will give my heart - may I always keep it for God. May trust in Him and His work and His word be paramount in my life each day.
John Gill
"Blessed are the pure in heart,.... Not in the head; for men may have pure notions and impure hearts; not in the hand, or action, or in outward conversation only; so the Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men, but inwardly full of impurity; but "in heart." The heart of man is naturally unclean; nor is it in the power of man to make it clean, or to be pure from his sin; nor is any man in this life, in such sense, so pure in heart, as to be entirely free from sin. This is only true of Christ, angels, and glorified saints: but such may be said to be so, who, though they have sin dwelling in them, are justified from all sin, by the righteousness of Christ, and are "clean through the word," or sentence of justification pronounced upon them, on the account of that righteousness; whose iniquities are all of them forgiven, and whose hearts are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all sin; and who have the grace of God wrought in their hearts, which, though as yet imperfect, it is entirely pure; there is not the least spot or stain of sin in it: and such souls as they are in love with, so they most earnestly desire after more purity of heart, lip, life, and conversation. And happy they are, for they shall see God; in this life, enjoying communion with him, both in private and public, in the several duties of religion, in the house and ordinances of God; where they often behold his beauty, see his power and his glory, and taste, and know, that he is good and gracious: and in the other world, where they shall see God in Christ, with the eyes of their understanding; and God incarnate, with the eyes of their bodies, after the resurrection; which sight of Christ, and God in Christ, will be unspeakably glorious, desirable, delightful, and satisfying; it will be free from all darkness and error, and from all interruption; it will be an appropriating and transforming one, and will last for ever."
You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
Matthew 5:8 KJV
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
I like how the Message translation explains pure in heart as when your get your heart and mind put right. I'm convinced that God is all around us and that His footprints are everywhere; it's just that I so frequently miss it. Sometimes I'm so filled with me, my goals, my to-do list, my plans that I miss Him.
Other scriptures parallel to Matthew 5:8
Psalm 17:15
(NLT)
Because I am righteous, I will see you.
When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
(The Message)
And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I'll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.
Again we get that same connection between righteousness/purity and seeing God's face. But I know I can never get good enough on my own to counted worthy of seeing God
So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching
This same word that's used for "pure" in pure of heart is also used here. It's always that thing in Christianity - the position and the actual day to day. Positionally I am pure, yet how do I actually live my life daily? How does this position of purity affect me? I know that when I'm feeling ashamed I act more shameful; I remove myself from God and others. The word tells me that I do not need to ever feel ashamed again; that Jesus has made me clean! Yet this activity referred to above of "let's get a firm grip on the promises that keep us going" sounds like it involves action on my part. Action to find those promises in the bible, action to get a grip on them by knowing them intimately and choosing to believe them whatever I might see. I think that phrase here about let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out is delightful.
Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
What others say about this passage:
John Wesley:
"The pure in heart - The sanctified: they who love God with all their hearts. They shall see God - In all things here; hereafter in glory."
He's also pointing to how it's Jesus who makes us pure. But then he goes on to infer that we will be filled with love for God because of what He's done for us and as we love Him more we see more of Him.
Matthew Henry:
" The pure in heart are happy; for they shall see God. Here holiness and happiness are fully described and put together. The heart must be purified by faith, and kept for God. Create in me such a clean heart, O God. None but the pure are capable of seeing God, nor would heaven be happiness to the impure. As God cannot endure to look upon their iniquity, so they cannot look upon his purity"
I especially like what he says about the heart must be purified by faith and kept for God. Every day I have choices about where I will give my heart - may I always keep it for God. May trust in Him and His work and His word be paramount in my life each day.
John Gill
"Blessed are the pure in heart,.... Not in the head; for men may have pure notions and impure hearts; not in the hand, or action, or in outward conversation only; so the Pharisees were outwardly righteous before men, but inwardly full of impurity; but "in heart." The heart of man is naturally unclean; nor is it in the power of man to make it clean, or to be pure from his sin; nor is any man in this life, in such sense, so pure in heart, as to be entirely free from sin. This is only true of Christ, angels, and glorified saints: but such may be said to be so, who, though they have sin dwelling in them, are justified from all sin, by the righteousness of Christ, and are "clean through the word," or sentence of justification pronounced upon them, on the account of that righteousness; whose iniquities are all of them forgiven, and whose hearts are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, which cleanses from all sin; and who have the grace of God wrought in their hearts, which, though as yet imperfect, it is entirely pure; there is not the least spot or stain of sin in it: and such souls as they are in love with, so they most earnestly desire after more purity of heart, lip, life, and conversation. And happy they are, for they shall see God; in this life, enjoying communion with him, both in private and public, in the several duties of religion, in the house and ordinances of God; where they often behold his beauty, see his power and his glory, and taste, and know, that he is good and gracious: and in the other world, where they shall see God in Christ, with the eyes of their understanding; and God incarnate, with the eyes of their bodies, after the resurrection; which sight of Christ, and God in Christ, will be unspeakably glorious, desirable, delightful, and satisfying; it will be free from all darkness and error, and from all interruption; it will be an appropriating and transforming one, and will last for ever."
John Gill does an excellent job here at explaining that balance of how we are only holy through Jesus' work and yet, because of what Jesus did, we allow God to work in our hearts to change us. As He changes us, more and more we can see Him. Oh what a joy it is to see glimpses of God!
As I think on all this my heart overflows with gratitude to God for giving Jesus to die in my place, for making me clean. I'm encouraged to think on His goodness daily, to seek to get a grip on His promises and cling to them (vrs to the trials before me) daily. To look for God all around me!
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Matthew 5:7
The Message version:
You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
NIV version:
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Wikipedia.org defines Mercy this way:
Mercy is a term used to describe the leniency or compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or compassion. One of the basic virtues of chivalry and Christian ethics, it is also related to concepts of justice and morality in behaviour between people.
Caring for others - Jesus said we will be blessed when we do this. I like how The Message states it that we'll find ourselves cared for when we care. It's contrary to much of our culture to care about others. It seems like I'm constantly bombarded with messages about self focus: you deserve a break today, you need to be good to yourself, work to love yourself, look out for #1. I look around me and often I see a grasping attitude; it seems that the thought process is that one has to grab everything one can for oneself to ensure what gets one's fair portion. But Jesus presented a whole different way of thinking for His followers; in His kingdom the thinking is that you are always looking out for the other guy. That you have a lifestyle that chooses to always be thinking about how you can do good for the other person. Tthe amazing thing that goes contrary to our common culture thinking today, is that when we are constantly looking out for others we will find ourselves being constantly looked out for. I think that means we'll be looked out for by God and other people. What a delightful way to live!
I want to look at some other scriptures that parallel this thought:
Psalm 18:25-27 (The Message)
The good people taste your goodness,
The whole people taste your health,
The true people taste your truth,
The bad ones can't figure you out.
You take the side of the down-and-out,
But the stuck-up you take down a peg. This same thought-merciful, careful - gets translated here as good, whole, true. God is showing us that people who live this kingdom lifestyle taste His goodness, health and truth. But those who are bad can't figure it out - it doesn't make sense. Those who are building up themselves will end up being taken down.
Luke 6:37-38 (The Message)
Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.
Wow does my soul need the words of Jesus! Sometimes I jump on the failures of those closest to me because those failures bug me. Sometimes I'm selfish and want my ease/comfort/own way. But Jesus shows me a different way than that which comes so easily to me; He says to give away my life and then I'll get back so much more.
I like to hear what others think & say about things. I especially liked the following thoughts on this topic:
Jamieson, Fausett and Brown:
"Not that our mercifulness comes absolutely first. On the contrary, our Lord Himself expressly teaches us that God's method is to awaken in us compassion towards our fellow men by His own exercise of it, in so stupendous a way and measure, towards ourselves."
God did so much for me. The word says that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). I am acutely aware of how unworthy I am of His goodness - yet He still gives it!
B.W. Johnson:
" The merciful, those who, instead of resenting injury, are ready to forgive, shall obtain the divine mercy. The fifth petition of the Lord's prayer implies that we must forgive if we expect to be forgiven. "
Sometimes I resent injury; yet here I am encouraged to forgive as I've been forgiven.
Matthew Henry:
" One of the purest and most refined delights in this world, is that of doing good. In this word, Blessed are the merciful, is included that saying of Christ, which otherwise we find not in the gospels, It is more blessed to give than to receive"
I like how Matthew Henry states that it is a delight we can have - to do good. When I feel discouraged or disheartened, it does me well to look at how I can do good for others instead of focusing on my downcast feelings.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Matthew 5:6
Matthew 5:6 (The Message)
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.
Whenever I'm looking at the word I like to 1) compare scripture to other scriptures and I like to 2) read or listen to other people's thoughts.
1. Other scriptures on this same topic
A. Isaiah 51:1-3 instead of hunger and thirst, or worked up a good appetite, it's translated as those of you who are serious
1-3 "Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living and committed to seeking God. Ponder the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug. Yes, ponder Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who bore you. Think of it! One solitary man when I called him, but once I blessed him, he multiplied. Likewise I, God, will comfort Zion, comfort all her mounds of ruins. I'll transform her dead ground into Eden, her moonscape into the garden of God, A place filled with exuberance and laughter, thankful voices and melodic songs.
So the blessing here is to be comforted, have our disastrous mistakes transformed into wonderful, full, beautiful lives, to become filled with laughter and thankfulness. The prerequisite is to get serious about "right living" and be committed to seeking God. I have so many mounds of ruins in my life; so many things through the years that I've messed up. I have seen God transform then into a new garden. But even in that new place I see my need to seek him and live in his ways or I'll end up messing up that too. Sometimes things don't go the way I want them to or seem to make sense and I need to just trust him and choose to have an attitude of gratitude and choose to be exuberant.
B. Psalm 119:17-24 instead of hunger and thirst, or worked up a good appetite, it's translated my soul is starved and hungry, ravenous - insatiable
Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands. And those who think they know so much, ignoring everything you tell them—let them have it! Don't let them mock and humiliate me; I've been careful to do just what you said. While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I'm absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbors!
I'm struck here by the passion and intensity of the seeking after God. I laughed when I read aloud the part about "I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions" - that's me! May God grant me the ability to see His wonders; I'm convinced that they're all around me in every day but that my eyes are off somewhere else and I miss them. I am a stranger to this lifestyle of intensely seeking Him above all else. His word, His precepts - they are nourishing. May I stop "eating" of other things that never satisfy and choose to "eat" of Him instead
C. Genesis 49:18 instead of hunger and thirst, or worked up a good appetite, it's translated as wait in hope
I wait in hope for your salvation, God.
These words were uttered by Jacob before he died. This guy had struggled with God in his life, he'd sinned big time over and over again. Yet I'm so struck here by the simplicity of his hope in God, his recognition that God was his only hope. God is my only hope also. I'm a person who has made commitments to myself to live life in a new and better way only to see myself sometimes keep them and sometimes fail. My heart despairs at my weakness, my propensity toward doing some of the very things that I know are not in my own, or anyone else's, best interests. May I hope in God, wholly.
2. Other people's thoughts
A. John Gill I really like what John Gill had to say about Matthew 5:6:
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst,.... Not after the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world, but after righteousness; by which is meant, not justice and equity, as persons oppressed and injured; nor a moral, legal righteousness, which the generality of the Jewish nation were eagerly pursuing; but the justifying righteousness of Christ, which is imputed by God the Father, and received by faith. To "hunger and thirst" after this, supposes a want of righteousness, which is the case of all men; a sense of want of it, which is only perceived by persons spiritually enlightened; a discovery of the righteousness of Christ to them, which is made in the Gospel, and by the Spirit of God; a value for it, and a preference of it to all other righteousness; and an earnest desire after it, to be possessed of it, and found in it; and that nothing can be more grateful than that, because of its perfection, purity, suitableness, and use: happy souls are these,for they shall be filled: with that righteousness, and with all other good things, in consequence of it; and particularly with joy and peace, which are the certain effects of it: or, "they shall be satisfied," that they have an interest in it; and so satisfied with it, that they shall never seek for any other righteousness, as a justifying one, in the sight of God; this being full, perfect, sufficient, and entirely complete."
It's interesting that I've been here thinking about what a schmuck I am, how I keep blowing it, and concluding that I'm not seeking wholeheartedly after God. Then I read the words of this man who died in 1771 and it hits me - it's not about my right living and my righteousness but about the righteousness of Christ! It is only when I am steadfastly convinced of my own unrighteousness that I look to the savior and the righteousness imputed to me there. As Gill puts it, "earnest desire after it, to be possessed of it, and found in it" (it being Christ's righteousness). May I be possessed of the desire for Christ's righteousness! Of course the question comes to me - how does that look in real every day life?
B. Matthew Henry
Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. See Ps. 24:5; ch. 6:33. They are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ; conveyed and secured by the imputation of that righteousness to us; and confirmed by the faithfulness of God. To have Christ made of God to us righteousness, and to be made the righteousness of God in him; to have the whole man renewed in righteousness, so as to become a new man, and to bear the image of God; to have an interest in Christ and the promises—this is righteousness. 2. These we must hunger and thirst after. We must truly and really desire them, as one who is hungry and thirsty desires meat and drink, who cannot be satisfied with any thing but meat and drink, and will be satisfied with them, though other things be wanting. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest and importunate; "Give me these, or else I die; every thing else is dross and chaff, unsatisfying; give me these, and I have enough, though I had nothing else." Hunger and thirst are appetites that return frequently, and call for fresh satisfactions; so these holy desires rest not in any thing attained, but are carried out toward renewed pardons, and daily fresh supplies of grace. The quickened soul calls for constant meals of righteousness, grace to do the work of every day in its day, as duly as the living body calls for food. Those who hunger and thirst will labour for supplies; so we must not only desire spiritual blessings, but take pains for them in the use of the appointed means. Dr. Hammond, in his practical Catechism, distinguishes between hunger and thirst. Hunger is a desire of food to sustain, such as sanctifying righteousness. Thirst is the desire of drink to refresh, such as justifying righteousness, and the sense of our pardon.Those who hunger and thirst after spiritual blessings, are blessed in those desires, and shall be filled with those blessings. (1.) They are blessed in those desires. Though all desires of grace are not grace (feigned, faint desires are not), yet such a desire as this is; it is an evidence of something good, and an earnest of something better. It is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands. Something or other the soul will be hungering and thirsting after; therefore they are blessed who fasten upon the right object, which is satisfying, and not deceiving; and do not pant after the dust of the earth, Amos 2:7; Isa. 55:2. (2.) They shall be filled with those blessings. God will give them what they desire to complete their satisfaction. It is God only who can fill a soul, whose grace and favour are adequate to its just desires; and he will fill those with grace for grace, who, in a sense of their own emptiness, have recourse to his fulness. He fills the hungry (Lu. 1:53), satiates them, Jer. 31:25. The happiness of heaven will certainly fill the soul; their righteousness shall be complete, the favour of God and his image, both in their full perfection.
Matthew Henry also underscores that it is CHRIST's righteousness, but he makes a point when he says "these holy desires rest not in any thing attained, but are carried out toward renewed pardons, and daily fresh supplies of grace". He is pointing out that we can't just say that we've prayed and received Christ's forgiveness so now we're done. I also like how he says "who, in a sense of their own emptiness, have recourse to his fulness." Even though, by God's grace, I'm a follower of Jesus I sometimes have such an aching sense of emptiness in my very soul. Perhaps it is caused by not filling my thirst daily with His grace and keeping my focus toward him but rather straying into wanting to be oh so perfect by this world's standards or wanting to fulfill whatever desire my flesh has at that moment.
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.
Whenever I'm looking at the word I like to 1) compare scripture to other scriptures and I like to 2) read or listen to other people's thoughts.
1. Other scriptures on this same topic
A. Isaiah 51:1-3 instead of hunger and thirst, or worked up a good appetite, it's translated as those of you who are serious
1-3 "Listen to me, all you who are serious about right living and committed to seeking God. Ponder the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were dug. Yes, ponder Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who bore you. Think of it! One solitary man when I called him, but once I blessed him, he multiplied. Likewise I, God, will comfort Zion, comfort all her mounds of ruins. I'll transform her dead ground into Eden, her moonscape into the garden of God, A place filled with exuberance and laughter, thankful voices and melodic songs.
So the blessing here is to be comforted, have our disastrous mistakes transformed into wonderful, full, beautiful lives, to become filled with laughter and thankfulness. The prerequisite is to get serious about "right living" and be committed to seeking God. I have so many mounds of ruins in my life; so many things through the years that I've messed up. I have seen God transform then into a new garden. But even in that new place I see my need to seek him and live in his ways or I'll end up messing up that too. Sometimes things don't go the way I want them to or seem to make sense and I need to just trust him and choose to have an attitude of gratitude and choose to be exuberant.
B. Psalm 119:17-24 instead of hunger and thirst, or worked up a good appetite, it's translated my soul is starved and hungry, ravenous - insatiable
Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands. And those who think they know so much, ignoring everything you tell them—let them have it! Don't let them mock and humiliate me; I've been careful to do just what you said. While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I'm absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbors!
I'm struck here by the passion and intensity of the seeking after God. I laughed when I read aloud the part about "I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions" - that's me! May God grant me the ability to see His wonders; I'm convinced that they're all around me in every day but that my eyes are off somewhere else and I miss them. I am a stranger to this lifestyle of intensely seeking Him above all else. His word, His precepts - they are nourishing. May I stop "eating" of other things that never satisfy and choose to "eat" of Him instead
C. Genesis 49:18 instead of hunger and thirst, or worked up a good appetite, it's translated as wait in hope
I wait in hope for your salvation, God.
These words were uttered by Jacob before he died. This guy had struggled with God in his life, he'd sinned big time over and over again. Yet I'm so struck here by the simplicity of his hope in God, his recognition that God was his only hope. God is my only hope also. I'm a person who has made commitments to myself to live life in a new and better way only to see myself sometimes keep them and sometimes fail. My heart despairs at my weakness, my propensity toward doing some of the very things that I know are not in my own, or anyone else's, best interests. May I hope in God, wholly.
2. Other people's thoughts
A. John Gill I really like what John Gill had to say about Matthew 5:6:
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst,.... Not after the riches, honours, and pleasures of this world, but after righteousness; by which is meant, not justice and equity, as persons oppressed and injured; nor a moral, legal righteousness, which the generality of the Jewish nation were eagerly pursuing; but the justifying righteousness of Christ, which is imputed by God the Father, and received by faith. To "hunger and thirst" after this, supposes a want of righteousness, which is the case of all men; a sense of want of it, which is only perceived by persons spiritually enlightened; a discovery of the righteousness of Christ to them, which is made in the Gospel, and by the Spirit of God; a value for it, and a preference of it to all other righteousness; and an earnest desire after it, to be possessed of it, and found in it; and that nothing can be more grateful than that, because of its perfection, purity, suitableness, and use: happy souls are these,for they shall be filled: with that righteousness, and with all other good things, in consequence of it; and particularly with joy and peace, which are the certain effects of it: or, "they shall be satisfied," that they have an interest in it; and so satisfied with it, that they shall never seek for any other righteousness, as a justifying one, in the sight of God; this being full, perfect, sufficient, and entirely complete."
It's interesting that I've been here thinking about what a schmuck I am, how I keep blowing it, and concluding that I'm not seeking wholeheartedly after God. Then I read the words of this man who died in 1771 and it hits me - it's not about my right living and my righteousness but about the righteousness of Christ! It is only when I am steadfastly convinced of my own unrighteousness that I look to the savior and the righteousness imputed to me there. As Gill puts it, "earnest desire after it, to be possessed of it, and found in it" (it being Christ's righteousness). May I be possessed of the desire for Christ's righteousness! Of course the question comes to me - how does that look in real every day life?
B. Matthew Henry
Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. See Ps. 24:5; ch. 6:33. They are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ; conveyed and secured by the imputation of that righteousness to us; and confirmed by the faithfulness of God. To have Christ made of God to us righteousness, and to be made the righteousness of God in him; to have the whole man renewed in righteousness, so as to become a new man, and to bear the image of God; to have an interest in Christ and the promises—this is righteousness. 2. These we must hunger and thirst after. We must truly and really desire them, as one who is hungry and thirsty desires meat and drink, who cannot be satisfied with any thing but meat and drink, and will be satisfied with them, though other things be wanting. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest and importunate; "Give me these, or else I die; every thing else is dross and chaff, unsatisfying; give me these, and I have enough, though I had nothing else." Hunger and thirst are appetites that return frequently, and call for fresh satisfactions; so these holy desires rest not in any thing attained, but are carried out toward renewed pardons, and daily fresh supplies of grace. The quickened soul calls for constant meals of righteousness, grace to do the work of every day in its day, as duly as the living body calls for food. Those who hunger and thirst will labour for supplies; so we must not only desire spiritual blessings, but take pains for them in the use of the appointed means. Dr. Hammond, in his practical Catechism, distinguishes between hunger and thirst. Hunger is a desire of food to sustain, such as sanctifying righteousness. Thirst is the desire of drink to refresh, such as justifying righteousness, and the sense of our pardon.Those who hunger and thirst after spiritual blessings, are blessed in those desires, and shall be filled with those blessings. (1.) They are blessed in those desires. Though all desires of grace are not grace (feigned, faint desires are not), yet such a desire as this is; it is an evidence of something good, and an earnest of something better. It is a desire of God's own raising, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands. Something or other the soul will be hungering and thirsting after; therefore they are blessed who fasten upon the right object, which is satisfying, and not deceiving; and do not pant after the dust of the earth, Amos 2:7; Isa. 55:2. (2.) They shall be filled with those blessings. God will give them what they desire to complete their satisfaction. It is God only who can fill a soul, whose grace and favour are adequate to its just desires; and he will fill those with grace for grace, who, in a sense of their own emptiness, have recourse to his fulness. He fills the hungry (Lu. 1:53), satiates them, Jer. 31:25. The happiness of heaven will certainly fill the soul; their righteousness shall be complete, the favour of God and his image, both in their full perfection.
Matthew Henry also underscores that it is CHRIST's righteousness, but he makes a point when he says "these holy desires rest not in any thing attained, but are carried out toward renewed pardons, and daily fresh supplies of grace". He is pointing out that we can't just say that we've prayed and received Christ's forgiveness so now we're done. I also like how he says "who, in a sense of their own emptiness, have recourse to his fulness." Even though, by God's grace, I'm a follower of Jesus I sometimes have such an aching sense of emptiness in my very soul. Perhaps it is caused by not filling my thirst daily with His grace and keeping my focus toward him but rather straying into wanting to be oh so perfect by this world's standards or wanting to fulfill whatever desire my flesh has at that moment.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
More on Matthew 5:5
I just can't let it go yet and go on to the next verse. I feel like I still need to look more into this contentment with you you are - no more, no less. I want what that brings - I want to be the proud owner of everything money can't buy. So I'm going to look at some other scriptures that use some of the key words that Jesus used here in Matthew 5:5. This word that gets translated as meek/content with who you are/humble; I want to look at some other passages that use this same word.
Psalm 37:10-11 (NIV):
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
The Message version says it this way:
Before you know it, the wicked will have had it; you'll stare at his once famous place and—nothing! Down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza.
The entire 37th Psalm is comparing the evil with God's people. It is encouraging God's followers to not get discouraged when it appears that the wicked are prospering. It gives a lot of descriptions of God's people:
Psalm 37:10-11 (NIV):
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
The Message version says it this way:
Before you know it, the wicked will have had it; you'll stare at his once famous place and—nothing! Down-to-earth people will move in and take over, relishing a huge bonanza.
The entire 37th Psalm is comparing the evil with God's people. It is encouraging God's followers to not get discouraged when it appears that the wicked are prospering. It gives a lot of descriptions of God's people:
- They keep company with God (v.4)
- They quiet down before God and are engaged in prayer (v.7)
- They bridle their anger (v.8)
- Instead of being borrowers they give and give (v.21)
- They turn away from evil and choose to do good (v.27)
- They speak wisely (v.30)
- They say just things (v.30)
- God's word is in their hearts (v.31)
Perhaps the above describes a lifestyle, that when participated in, leads to contentment with who we are. The focus isn't on looking at myself and saying "yes I'm OK, in fact, I'm really good. I choose to love myself today." or any other such positive talk stuff. It seems to be more about being caught up in something bigger than myself, something so wonderful that I give my whole self to it!
I absolutely adore the way The Message translates the first part of the 34th verse and the 37-40 verses:
34 Wait passionately for God, don't leave the path.
37-38 Keep your eye on the healthy soul, scrutinize the straight life; There's a future in strenuous wholeness. But the willful will soon be discarded; insolent souls are on a dead-end street.
39-40 The spacious, free life is from God, it's also protected and safe. God-strengthened, we're delivered from evil— when we run to him, he saves us.
There's nothing passive in waiting "passionately". And then there's that "strenuous wholeness". The I see that we do this through God, it's he who strengthens and enables us.
Matthew 11:28-30
NIV: 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The Message: 28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Now how appealing is Jesus' invitation here! Again I see this paradox that is so central to the Jesus Kingdom - to lose your life your way to truly gain your life (it's that you must go down before you go up thing again). I also see again that this contentment Jesus talked about in His sermon on the mount as a result of being meek is about a lifestyle, a way of living that produces this character trait that leads to blessing. I want what Jesus is offering here and as I read this some questions come to my mind- How do I : Get away with Him? Walk with Him? Work with Him? Watch how He did it? Learn the unforced rhythms of grace? Keep company with Him?
I'm going to have to think on this one. I don't think it's an instant answer kind of thing.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:5
5"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.
Wow, aren't these words profoundly true!
This is from The Message paraphrase. JKV & Young's literal both translate the verse to say more along the lines of the meek are blessed and shall inherit the earth. New living translation states it as the humble are blessed. I guess who is more meek or humble than someone who is content with who they are and neither tries to be more or less.
This really gets to me personally because I want so much to be like this, but to be totally candid, am not. I frequently find myself wishing I were different than I am vrs being content. Do I even know what content really means?! Websters defines the adjective content like this:
S: (adj) contented, content (satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are) "a contented smile"
Since this is a subject of contentment with oneself is one upon which I have little to no experience, I figured I'd see what a couple of classic commentators had to say about this verse:
Wow, aren't these words profoundly true!
This is from The Message paraphrase. JKV & Young's literal both translate the verse to say more along the lines of the meek are blessed and shall inherit the earth. New living translation states it as the humble are blessed. I guess who is more meek or humble than someone who is content with who they are and neither tries to be more or less.
This really gets to me personally because I want so much to be like this, but to be totally candid, am not. I frequently find myself wishing I were different than I am vrs being content. Do I even know what content really means?! Websters defines the adjective content like this:
S: (adj) contented, content (satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are) "a contented smile"
Since this is a subject of contentment with oneself is one upon which I have little to no experience, I figured I'd see what a couple of classic commentators had to say about this verse:
- Matthew Henry- "The meek are happy. The meek are those who quietly submit to God; who can bear insult; are silent, or return a soft answer; who, in their patience, keep possession of their own souls, when they can scarcely keep possession of anything else. These meek ones are happy, even in this world. Meekness promotes wealth, comfort, and safety, even in this world. " I like that phrase that they "keep possession of their own souls". Isn't easy to lose possession of or souls in this world? To give our minds and hearts over to a myriad of things that come our way?
- John Gill - "Verse 5. Blessed are the meek,.... Who are not easily provoked to anger; who patiently bear, and put up with injuries and affronts; carry themselves courteously, and affably to all; have the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; do not envy the gifts and graces of other men; are willing to be instructed and admonished, by the meanest of the saints; quietly submit to the will of God, in adverse dispensations of providence; and ascribe all they have, and are, to the grace of God. Meekness, or humility, is very valuable and commendable. " I laughed when I read the phrase above "willing to be instructed and admonished by the meanest of saints"! Don't we all know that there are those who are unkind and critical among our breathern?! However, that doesn't mean that their critiques of me aren't accurate or that I can't benefit from pondering their criticisms and asking the Holy Spirit to show me if they're correct and to forgive me my sin and empower me to change.
You know, so much of life is a choice. I hope that in today I will choose contentment.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Meditating on what Jesus had to say-Matt. 5:4
4"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.
Kind James, Amplified, and Living versions of the passage all say blessed are those who mourn. I think this whole theme is a continuation of the same theme from verse 3, that we're blessed when we realize that nothing we have is of any value and only He is what matters. It's a Kingdom principle, that you must come down before you can come back up. We must realize how we are truly without what is needed because then we will be willing to let go and let Him work.
I need to think on this daily because I tend toward grasping onto things; reputation, building a nice home, career accomplishments, relationships...whatever it is NOTHING compares to God. My relationship with Him needs to be the core of my life - no other substitute!
Loss is so hard though. I've known lots of it in my life. I'm divorced and have known the loss of the marriage relationship and dream. I experienced the loss (allbeit a positive situation) of my oldest son when he went away to college this past summer. The worst loss of all is when I've messed up in life and exprienced the loss of self respect. I'm reminded of 2 Corinthians 7:10 where there are two types of sorrow/mourning/distress discussed. It says that "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets." I want to be real and not be in denial and truely see and aknowledge the losses in my life, and then allow those same losses to draw me closer to God.
Kind James, Amplified, and Living versions of the passage all say blessed are those who mourn. I think this whole theme is a continuation of the same theme from verse 3, that we're blessed when we realize that nothing we have is of any value and only He is what matters. It's a Kingdom principle, that you must come down before you can come back up. We must realize how we are truly without what is needed because then we will be willing to let go and let Him work.
I need to think on this daily because I tend toward grasping onto things; reputation, building a nice home, career accomplishments, relationships...whatever it is NOTHING compares to God. My relationship with Him needs to be the core of my life - no other substitute!
Loss is so hard though. I've known lots of it in my life. I'm divorced and have known the loss of the marriage relationship and dream. I experienced the loss (allbeit a positive situation) of my oldest son when he went away to college this past summer. The worst loss of all is when I've messed up in life and exprienced the loss of self respect. I'm reminded of 2 Corinthians 7:10 where there are two types of sorrow/mourning/distress discussed. It says that "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets." I want to be real and not be in denial and truely see and aknowledge the losses in my life, and then allow those same losses to draw me closer to God.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Meditating on what Jesus had to say
I've been wanting to be back to basics lately in my life, back to the foundation. So I've been looking more at what Jesus said and did. I'm totally attracted to what he had to say in what's been called His "sermon on the mount". I especially love the way it reads in The Message paraphrase in Matthew 5:3-10:
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"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.
5"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.
6"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.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"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.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
I want these words to be descriptors of my life.
That first one - you're blessed when you're at the end of your rope because with less of you there can be more of God and His rule - this is a principle that I keep coming back to. I think I first began to understand this concept when I was in a marriage to a drinking alcoholic and went to an Al anon meeting; that first step says to recognize that we are powerless. All my life I've struggled with this. I want to be competent and in control. Heck, I even have daydreams about being better organized and practically perfect in every way (guess I never did give up my childhood hero of Mary Poppins). But there are my weak/problem areas in my life - desire to try to control people, compulsive overeating, having 3 teenage sons, my natural shyness - these areas that always lead me back to recognizing my lack of ability to control. These areas that bring me to the end of my rope. I guess I should rejoice in my weaknesses because it is here that I see and feel my need to come to God and rely on His power.
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"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.
5"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.
6"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.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"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.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
I want these words to be descriptors of my life.
That first one - you're blessed when you're at the end of your rope because with less of you there can be more of God and His rule - this is a principle that I keep coming back to. I think I first began to understand this concept when I was in a marriage to a drinking alcoholic and went to an Al anon meeting; that first step says to recognize that we are powerless. All my life I've struggled with this. I want to be competent and in control. Heck, I even have daydreams about being better organized and practically perfect in every way (guess I never did give up my childhood hero of Mary Poppins). But there are my weak/problem areas in my life - desire to try to control people, compulsive overeating, having 3 teenage sons, my natural shyness - these areas that always lead me back to recognizing my lack of ability to control. These areas that bring me to the end of my rope. I guess I should rejoice in my weaknesses because it is here that I see and feel my need to come to God and rely on His power.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
