Happy People

¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. ² He taught them, saying:
³ “Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
⁴ “Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
⁵ “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
⁶ “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
⁷ “Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
⁸ “Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
⁹ “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
¹⁰ “Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
¹¹ “Happy are you when people insult you and harass you and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all because of me. ¹² Be full of joy and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. In the same way, people harassed the prophets who came before you. (Matthew 5:1-12, CEB)

I really don’t know anyone who is happy when they are hopeless, grieving, or harassed. This passage is a little easier to swallow when the word blessed is used, and even then it is not so easy.

But if you honestly read the passage and hear it for what Jesus was saying, it is true. We can be happy when we are hopeless because we get God’s kingdom. And we can be happy when we grieve because we will be made glad. We can be happy when we are harassed for following Jesus because he has told us we will be with him forever.

So in every and all circumstances be happy, because God has chosen you to be a part of the kingdom!