Day 18 | Matthew 5:1-7
One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:1-7 NLT
For Reflection:
These past few days, we have explored how Jesus guides us to recognize and respond to needs around us, to serve others, and receive service, in humility, peace, and love as Jesus modeled and taught. How do we serve out of a place of gratitude, generosity and love, rather than obligation? Why does it matter to recognize our own need for Him, for compassion and mercy from Him and others?
This passage from the Sermon on the Mount invites us to look at our attitudes, posture, and heart toward God and others, to consider our relationship with God and the impact of how we relate to and with others.
Jesus’ teaching counters what many in his time believed and leaders taught: that we are blessed through our own goodness and efforts following the law. Our culture today conveys a blessed life is one of abundance. Jesus teaches a Kingdom that seems upside down to many: belonging to those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are merciful, who hunger and thirst for what is just and righteous; where those considered great are not by worldly definitions. He is showing that to be blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven, looks different than one might expect – and that our attitudes, posture and heart toward God and others as we engage with them matter. In God’s kingdom, a person who is “blessed” experiences hope and joy, independent of his or her outward circumstances.
The word translated “humble” in verse 5 (“meek” in some translations) is the same word used by Jesus to describe His own heart in Matthew 11:29 (“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”) What would it look like for me to have a humble heart like Jesus?
There exists a fragile line between humility and judgement, between compassion and pity. I’ve seen it serving in communities, distributing food, providing shelter, and serving on mission. I’ve unwittingly crossed it myself. Have you? This fragile line between a heart that is humble and one that (however well-intended) is not can be easily broken and result in coming across as condescending or superior toward another. As we serve others and with others in our communities, our church, our schools, let’s reflect on our attitude, posture, and heart. Do we look to Jesus for His example to see the needs around us and respond in humility, peace, and love?
How might I draw from His perspective, from the mercy that God generously has given to me; from His attitude, heart, and actions in order to serve with loving kindness, humility, and mercy, recognizing our mutual need for Jesus?
Let Us Pray:
Gracious God, thank you for your humble, gentle heart; for your mercy so freely given; for the comfort you provide and contentment you cultivate as we live out your hope, love, peace, and light in our world. Lord, would you help humble my heart and mind to be more like yours. Show us what you see. Help us recognize that we all need your mercy, grace, comfort, forgiveness and love. Help us to see the needs around us and to move with compassion and intention to serve in our communities, our church, and to do so in humility, love and peace, knowing that it is your love, your light, your mercy guiding and providing.
Help keep us aware of our own poverty within – that it may not be eclipsed by the poverty we see before us. Please continue to guide our attitudes posture toward you and others, and would you continue healing and forming our hearts to be humble, gentle, meek like yours. Thank you for loving us first, for calling us to your heart. In the holy name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Questions:
Where is there poverty within my own spirit?
What is my posture when helping another? Am I elevating or humbling myself?
I reflect on God’s mercy toward me. How do I readily share the mercy God has shown me in serving others?
Do I find myself quietly judging or questioning the motives of the people I am serving or serving with, being critical of their circumstances? I talk with Jesus about this.