28 April 2014; Mat 5

28 April 2014; Mat 5

Matthew 5 to Matthew 7 is about Jesus preaching a sermon on the Mount - or in short Sermon on the Mount.

It started off with the beatitudes. What is beatitudes? Something beautiful? No accordingly the meaning of beatitudes is supreme blessings.

Who are the ones Jesus gave the blessings - the not so blessed in society in terms of material wealth, status or power.

Why then these people are bless? So is it better to have less of wealth, power and status? Have a poverty mind set?

The eight beatitudes is about being humble, being charitable and of brotherly love. It is about a quality and not about the quantity of wealth, power or status.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12 ESV)

The first beatitudes are in v3. The poor - not rich, bent low, miserable, afflicted ... Not the blessings are not for these group of people but to those whose spirit are poor. To be of poor spirit - is a gesture of one bending low in the presence of God. It is acknowledging his poorness or poor condition in the presence of a rich God. These are the poor in spirit and they will inherit the kingdom of God.

The world ask for those who stand out in wealth, in power and in status. The kingdom of God ask for those who is able to come before God - poor.

How then I can be poor? Acknowledge that my God is rich and I have no lack. God is the master and I do not have to serve the worldly master. Is it not easier to achieve poor than to achieve richness?

God open my heart as I serve you - as I begin to serve in the orphanage and serve the poor with Fion. I want to be able to serve you in church capacity too. Not for man but for you. The main mission is about the kingdom of God - about God and his people. Open up opportunities for me to speak and serve others - considering others poor than me and my spirit poorer than them.