1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian 1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian | страница 11

Saturday
Reading: Romans 7
The third reason that the beatitudes are important is that they simply prove
that people who try to be “good” without Jesus just can’t pull it off. We
touched on this aspect in our Thursday devotion, but I do think that it bears
merit in emphasizing this profound truth. The entire teaching on the beatitudes
is determined by this truth being foundational. When Jesus preached this
sermon to His disciples, He must surely have raised a few eyebrows, because at
first impression a beatitude-lived life would appear to be absolutely impossible.
Well that, people, is Jesus’ point. He wants us to see how high He has set the bar
and thereby create a sense within us of hopelessness at trying to attain it on our
own. When we understand how impossible it is, humanly speaking, to attain the
heights of a “beatitudinal” lifestyle, we realise the need to throw ourselves at the
feet of a Sovereign God who alone, through the indwelling power of His Holy
Spirit, enables us to live life at a higher order. This dependence upon Jesus to
live out the beatitudes is the reason that Jesus spoke these words only to His
disciples. This was not a sermon for the crowd, it was a sermon aimed at His
disciples, those who had made the choice to follow Him.
The change that is necessary and that will enable us to live out the high calling of
the beatitudes is a change that begins in our hearts. It is not a change that comes
because we think it’s a good idea (although I am sure there are many who would
agree that it is) but it is a change that happens when the Holy Spirit invades our
hearts and our spirit connects with His Spirit and we just know (without being
able to define it) that something enormous has happened.
Prayer Thought: Once again, as we are still in the first week and covering an
introduction to the beatitudes, I urge you to reflect on these thoughts many times
through the day. Take as much time as possible to contemplate them and to talk to
Jesus about them. I know that the more time you spend with Him and that which is
not a superficial connection, the closer and more real it will become the ideal of a
lifestyle that reflects the beauty of the Beatitudes.