The attitudes expressed in the Beatitudes provide a foundation for a fulfilling life. If you think about it, as parents, what do we want our kids to really get and get right? We want them to have the right attitude in all the things that they do and how they interact with their world and people. Good attitudes can carry a person much further than knowledge any day. Just like we teach our children, in order to experience that fulfillment, we must adopt these attitudes in our heart. In order to lead a fulfilled life we must establish healthy attitudes toward all of the experiences of life.
In the same way that a building is no stronger than the foundation upon which it is built, no life is more secure than the attitudes upon which it is established. According to Jesus’ final words in the Sermon on the Mount, difficult situations come to everyone. Before we actually look at the Beatitudes, Jesus puts into perspective their importance.
Matthew 7:24-27 (TNIV)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Some people would question the advantage of being a Christian if we are still going to have troubles. The advantage is that Christian life is built on attitudes that victoriously survive the troubles and struggles that come to us. The basis for this support is happiness and fulfillment, and it is a choice that all of us can make. This in no way means that we will welcome adversity or that we will find it comfortable, only that we will have the tools to NOT allow adversity to destroy our spirit.
The other option is to live with hate, anger, and bitterness. I always ask…..”How’s that working for ya?”
It is in these tough times that we wrestle and often struggle to grow in our faith. It is in these tough times that we grow in applying the wisdom that Jesus shares and that we must cling ever more closely to God and to our family and friends that encourage us. We need God and we need each other!
As the rain comes down, the streams rise, and as the winds blow and beat against your house, I pray that you will focus on the strong foundation, built on the rock of Jesus Christ, that will carry you through the storm. I pray that you will feel the peace of this protection. I also pray that you will seek Him in all things. The storm will be over, the rains will stop, the wind will quit blowing. I pray that you will then walk out that door in victory, ready to face the new day.
thank you Jan! It is so true we must strive to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to begin the learning experience towards having a “Christlike” character..(life long experience!)…change our way of thinking (repentance), which changes our beliefs, which changes our actions…life is mostly about perspective and choice and with Gods help minimizing the damage caused by fear, selfishness and pride….we can choose to see what we may first see as “adversity” insted see it as “opportunity” to seek a closer relationship with our Creator – Jesus the Christ!!!