The Blessed Heart

I think that the Sermon on the Mount is a sermon about the heart.. throughout it Jesus addresses the below-the-surface aspects of life. When he speaks of murder He goes to the root issue of hate.. He does likewise with adultery and lust.

So today I thought I’d share few thoughts on that section of His sermon that we call The Beatitudes.. and how we are blessed when we live from our heart. Here is Matthew 5:3-10 from The Message with my comments:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule."

So often we must get to the end of our proverbial rope before we can grasp His deep message living in our heart. I remember vividly that time when my wife Ann's legs were paralyzed on a cruise ship.. I could not think my way to peace.. I had to let go of my thinking and hear the Voice in my heart.

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."

When I lost my first wife Ellen I began a long journey of the heart where I began to depend less on my thinking.. it was a painful transition. I love how it says that God will embrace us in the context of the pain of loss.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

It is hard to be content when you live from your head - there is always more to be had.. more that we 'think' we need. A regenerate heart is a content heart ... a heart that is happy being and not doing.. we can be content when we live from our heart.

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."

This verse describes a healthy heart.. one full of passion for Jesus. A hungry and thirsty heart involves spiritual exercise where we feed on the word ... we do the word ... then we get hungry again.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for."

A compassionate heart filled with mercy will attract other compassionate hearts. As you are moved with compassion, compassion moves towards you. It is a kingdom principle.. we sow mercy and we reap mercy.

"You're blessed when you get your inside world--your mind and heart--put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."

A regenerated heart sees God in other people. By embracing your heart you change everything.. eyes of faith are opened.. things that were not visible are now seen. When we live from our heads we can get discouraged.. encouragement comes when we engage the eyes of our heart.. when we see life through His eyes.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."

If you know your heart you have the ability to compromise with others.. when you disagree you have the humility to know that your brain may be wrong.. you have the ability to listen to others and learn from them.

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."

The path of trial is the pathway into the kingdom. Like pumping spiritual iron we strengthen our heart as we overcome the trials of life.

Jesus' teaching always seemed to center on the heart issues. In these verses He seems to be teaching on the blessings of the new regenerate heart.