Be-Attitudes: Double Reward Points For The Taking.

We all long and pray for God’s blessings in all that we do. In The Beatitudes, (Matthew 5:3-12), Jesus made a case for eight noble character pursuits, pronouncing blessings on those who will express them now and promising future blessings as a further reward for those who will persevere in adopting them throughout their lifetime. Double for the trouble, you say? The Sermon on the Mount clearly delineates what Jesus expects from us (with the assistance of the Holy Spirit) and what we may expect from His Father as our glorious recompense. To paraphrase:

1. As a foundation for all the other blessings, He blesses the humble who recognize their total dependency on God like little children on their parents, those who are always begging at God’s door for graces (be they rich or poor); and declares that they will be recognized and exalted in God’s Kingdom.
2. He blesses those who have a godly sorrow for their own sins in repentance, the sins of others, and the perils of the unredeemed, just as He wept for Jerusalem; and declares they will be comforted in heaven, where there is no more sin or sorrow.
3. He blesses those who are meek like Him in a world that rewards aggression, those who submit to the challenges of a Christian life, who are gentle and bear provocation for His sake, who forgive easily and do not seek vengeance, who express displeasure without sinning; and promises that they will inherit the earth. How so? Their meek qualities predispose them to a peaceful life and easy-going mindset, good health of body and mind, thus positioning them in good stead for a long life by God’s mercy. They are living in a version of Canaan, even here on earth.
4. He blesses those who hunger and thirst for spiritual blessings on an ongoing, daily basis, (since hunger and thirst are daily sensations); and promises them satisfaction given that all our spiritual blessings have already been made available to us in the heavenly places through Him. We just need to claim them daily.
5. He blesses the merciful, who exhibit compassion for the ignorant, those in different types of need (material, emotional, physical, spiritual), and act to mitigate or pacify these miseries out of love for God; and promises that they shall find the mercy of God waiting for them at every turn and will also receive a merciful judgment on the last day.
6. He blesses those who have struggled to keep their hearts pure , who run away from every source of pollution, who understand that external holiness without a clean heart falls short of God’s expectations; and promises that they will see a pure and holy God, for unclean hearts cannot abide the glory of His pure light.
7. He blesses the Peace-makers, who fervently seek and pursue peace for themselves and others, sometimes at great cost to themselves; they are His disciples since He is the Prince of Peace, and are consequently known to all as children of God given their affinity for the Son of God.
8. He blesses those who are reviled and persecuted for His sake, (those who are mocked, lied against, scorned at, beaten or even killed for their faith), they are glorifying God who in turn comforts them with signs of His approval; and promises them untold rewards in heaven.

These double blessings are all ours if we struggle to make the related qualities our life-long goals. Indeed, these are becoming attitudes  for those who identify as co-heirs with and followers of Jesus. We ask The Helper for promised help, grace and courage to take up these noble pursuits.