First, I want you to share my excitement! I met a Facebook friend for the first time in actual "face" time today. What a pleasure she is! She stood out from the FB "crowd"...actually, her husband did first; and then I connected with her. We've had some interesting discussions online. Since her hubz works in another state and only comes home about once a month, I didn't get to meet him yet. Hopefully, Michael and I will both get to do so in the near future.
Sub question:
Have you ever said, "I am blessed!"?
Matthew 5
1SEEING THE crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.
2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, with a [d]happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace;[a]to be envied, and [b]spiritually prosperous--[c]with life-joy and in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted
5Blessed are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!
6Blessed and fortunate and happy and [g]spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God [h]enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be [i]completely satisfied!
7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!(D)
9Blessed are the makers and [s]maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
11Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.
12Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [II Chron. 36:16.]
The Beatitudes are usually taught from the perspective of "How-to" be happy. Notice that there were crowds, then Jesus "went up on a mountain". Then, "his disciples came to him"...so this talk was not to the crowds. What do you typically see in a large crowd? People trying to remain anonymous, being irritable or downright nasty, pushing, shoving, trying to have their own way? Not always; but I wonder if Jesus was trying to help his disciples learn to identify His children? There's a saying..."people need loving the most when they deserve it the least." Then, He even switches from using the pronouns "they" and "theirs" to "you". Just a bit of different slant. Have the Beatitudes been life-changing for anyone?
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