The Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew chapters 5-7, opens with The Beatitudes. I’m sure many of us are familiar with the Beatitudes, but what do they mean? Our culture has taught us to believe that we are blessed when we inherit great wealth or have an abundance of material possessions. While it is possible to be blessed and have material possessions, you do not have to inherit wealth in order to find favor with God. The nine Beatitudes establish Jesus’ desire for all followers of Him: wealth not according to the world’s standards, but spiritual abundance. The following is a prayer for us, the believers who Jesus addresses both then and now:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, teach us to desire you. When we are poor in spirit, make our desire for you rich so that we would seek to know you and depend on you even more. We pray that our dependence on you would outweigh our tendency to take care of ourselves.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
We pray for those who are in the midst of pain and suffering. We pray for those who have lost loved ones. Our tears are for the evil and sinful world in which we live. We often fail to properly give you the honor and glory you deserve, and our world is evidence of that. We mourn for those who do not know you and will spend eternity separate from you.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Teach us to humble ourselves and demonstrate quiet submission. As Abraham inherited the greatest reward for his obedience and faithfulness, we pray we would also submit wholeheartedly to your authority. Teach us serve others out of an overflow of our selfless hearts.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
As those who are parched, let us deeply desire you for you are the only one who can quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger. Let your Holy Spirit be the only way our cravings are fulfilled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Lord, we pray for forgiving hearts. Our prayer is to be slow to anger and quick to forgive. We pray against a buildup of resentment and bitterness, but soften our hearts, for we have been shown great mercy too.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Lord, let our hearts not be contaminated by the sin and evil in this world. Let us fill our hearts and our minds with what is pure, holy, and honoring to you, so that when the time comes, we will see you as you are, not through a clouded lens.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
We pray for a higher calling than someone who puts a stop to violence. We pray that we would be children of God who have made peace in our own hearts with God and extend peace to those whom we come in contact with, even our enemies.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Just as the world persecuted Jesus, we know we will experience trouble. Thank you, God that the reward is great for those who endure persecution and stand firm in the faith for your glory.
As Christians, our lives are meant to look different from those around us. Christ has made us holy, which literally means we have been “set apart.” We are called serve others when the world calls us to promote ourselves. We are called to forgive when the world says we should harbor resentment and hold grudges. We are called to withstand persecution, forgive our enemies, and resist temptation. The cost is large, but the reward is larger. The Bible says ours is the kingdom of Heaven: an eternal inheritance worth far more than anything this world can offer us! With what beatitude can you most identify with today? Spend some time in prayer asking the Lord to strengthen you today!
