Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying:
“Happy are people who are hopeless, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.
“Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.
“Happy are people who show mercy, because they will receive mercy.
“Happy are people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
“Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.
“Happy are people whose lives are harassed because they are righteous, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
“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. 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)
Want to post something in public places that shows how we are to live in the light of the love of God and be who God has called us to be? Then you should not post the 10 Commandments. Because, first off, you need to decide which version of the commandments you are posting. That’s right, there are at least three different ways the 10 Commandments are numbered. And these are rules which are impossible to keep, in their given form, and especially in the way Jesus explains them.
But the beatitudes we have here give us a model for a way to live.
Most of us can say we know what it is to be hopeless.
We know what it is to grieve.
We have been humbled at probably one point in our lives.
We have hungered and thirsted for the right thing to happen.
We have shown mercy.
If we can live in a way that brings hope to others, see them in their grief, be humble enough to know we are not always right, to work for the best of all people, to be merciful in all of our actions, to have hearts that seek goodness for all, to work for peace in all things, and to not harass people for being alive, then we will be living as God called us to live.
Stop trying to follow rules you will never actually follow and love.
Period. Just love all and look out for the needs of others first.
Love.
aSacredRebel 