The last couple of weeks have been interesting at best. When you go from riding motorcycles and golfing in Texas to a winter retreat in Billings Montana it is quite a shock to the system. 70’s on the one hand and when I woke up this morning it is a balmy -9 degrees Fahrenheit. In spending this year traveling around the country and getting to reset my mind I have been reminded of how diverse our country is. From the Rocky Mountains of Yellowstone, Glacier, and into Canada. To the hill country of Texas and even the sandy beaches of the south Texas coast I am fascinated with it all.
The thousands of different people we have encountered along the way, have reminded me that even though we are different and individual we still all have one thing in common. We are all striving after something.
As I have been reading Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I have been trying to look at it with a different perspective. At first, and in the last few posts, I had been taking an if-then approach to the beatitudes. If you are poor in spirit, if you mourn, if you are meek then you will get the kingdom of heaven or comfort or things of this nature. What I am learning and becoming more impressed upon is this. We need to shift from an if-then type of thinking to an examination of what is most important in life. In this shift of thought, we are still granted all of the things that Jesus promises in the beatitudes, it’s just a different mindset as to what we are chasing after. If you are just chasing after a better life now, you might be encouraged to act in false humility. You may be looking to mourn so you might be comforted or meek so as to try and gain all that earth has to offer. That’s not really what Jesus is trying to get across here. Living life this way is all about focusing on me and my happiness. What I want to help us shift is who or what should be the focus of our actions.
This time we take a look at “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matt 5:6 NIV
What are you hungry for? Ok, I’m writing this at breakfast time so that’s probably not the right question. In life what are you hungry for? What is it that helps you get out of bed in the morning? Why do you have the relationships you have? Why did you take the job you have? Why do you go to or avoid church?
We all are hungry for something and are trying to squeeze everything we can out of it but sometimes we don’t recognize what that is. Some people try to do as little as possible and they work very hard at it. Some, try to do as much as they can to succeed in work, money, relationships and they are also working very heard to gain it.
This may or may not make sense but the results of what Jesus is talking about here is really what kind of impact is happening from an eternal perspective. We should grieve about injustice or mourn for those who are hurting but the shift comes from what the outcome will be. Alright, hang with me here for just a bit. This shift is a spiritual shift. Going from what will I get to who am I focusing on. In an if-then focus or I want the result, therefore, I will do the action to get the desired result. When we shift to thinking from a godly perspective we are focused on both the here now and the what’s later, we will focus on what it will take to make sure that everyone has a chance to hear the Good News of the Gospel and not only spend eternity in Heaven but will have the proper perspective of what life on earth will look like and where we will place our hope. The results of the beatitudes are the same but one will only give satisfaction here on earth and the other will grant happiness for eternity.
So love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength and you will then gain all that the beatitudes have to offer. Thirst for the righteousness of God and you will be filled with all you can imagine and more. Yes, it is an if-then thing but just keep the if in the right perspective.
Have a great day!!
ETHOS 4 LIFE 