Matthew 5:5-9 says this: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I want to look at each of these verses. The first one speaks of how the meek will inherit the earth. In today’s world thinking meekness is seen as someone who is humble, gentle, weak, but the Bible sees it differently. If you were considered weak in Bible times, it meant that you were active and deliberate in accepting less than circumstances. You view circumstances in a “part of a bigger picture” kind of way and accept that at the right time it will all work out as it should. You may outwardly look passive, unsure, but inside you are full of resilience and peace.

Meekness used to be considered a virtue, now it is seen as a defect, a flaw in your character. When a wild animal appears meek, it is not that the animal has lost its strength, it just means it is submissive to the moment and is controlling its strength. Jesus was considered meek at times and we know He certainly had all power!

The next verse says: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” What does it look like to hunger and thirst? The first thing we think about is that physical sensation of our stomachs growling and our mouths being dry. When we feel that way, we go get food and a beverage of some kind. However, often times when we feel that dry feeling in our spiritual selves and we feel like we are just lost and wandering​ through life bumping into walls, why do we not go get the word of God, the true “Bread of Life” that usually sits somewhere near-by collecting dust and fill our hearts, minds and soul with the food of life? Are you hungry for God, do you want more of him? Maybe if you don’t it is because you are still too full of yourself. Just a thought.

Next on the list is “the merciful.” What does mercy look like, act like? We all want to get mercy, but do we hand it out in equal measure? Mercy is what God gives to us even though what we really deserve is his wrath and punishment. We are guilty of breaking every commandment either in our minds, hearts or in actuality. But when we repent and turn to him, instead of handing down the sentence to punish us, he instead forgives us. Gives us underserved mercy, makes us new and forgets our wrongs, our past. So often I hear people say things like ” I will not forgive them, they deserve to be punished, they deserve my anger”, or “so what, if I was forgiven, I think they deserve to be punished, it was different circumstances than mine” and on and on it goes. We never want to think we are as bad as we are. God knows exactly how bad we are and instead of death, gives us unmerited favor and mercy and life everlasting.

Next is “the pure in heart.” Are you pure in heart? Am I? PURE, seriously! Calm down, I will try to explain this scripture as best my feeble mind can. In scripture, it means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” The only way we can be this is by surrendering self to Jesus and taking on his righteousness and purity. He was and is the only “sinless” one that there ever was or ever will be. Because of what he did, we are declared innocent because of Jesus finished work on the cross. So, am I pure, “Yes”, are you? “Yes”, if you are born again, if you have been clothed in His righteousness and purity, then you and I are seen by God as pure. Isn’t that amazing and wonderful!

And lastly “the peacemakers.” Are you a peacemaker, do you do your best to keep calm and carry on. Do you speak well of others and not perpetuate gossip? Do you bring about reconciliation or at least try to? God wants us to live peaceably with our neighbors. He wants us to be salt and light to a dying world. He desires that we “represent” him well to others. Don’t you hate a mad, argumentative, negative, hateful Christian? I do! We need to be the diffuser in a situation, not the instigator or the perpetrator.

Here is the “cream” on the top of all of these verses. If we are meek, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure and being a peacemaker then his word tells us that “WE WILL”. What will we get “EVERYTHING!”
Jesus gives us everything for our nothing. All we give to him is our filthy rags of a self and to us, we are given mercy, grace, an inheritance, peace and the list just keeps on going.

When we live our lives as we are commanded to do and we let his kingdom come in us and through us to a lost and dying world in a way that says “this is the only way”, God notices and is pleased. God promises us his best, promises to get us through this life and on to life everlasting with him. I want to represent my Lord well. I want others to see him in me before they see me. If all they are seeing is me, I need to do a “heart check” and a “soul check” on myself and dig a little deeper into the well and bread of his word.

One time I was on a ladies retreat and after listening to a message about the character of God and that of believers I kept coming back to this thought,”what do I look like to others?” “Do they see Jesus in me?” One night during this retreat I was lying in bed, I could not fall asleep and I was praying out loud to the Lord. I told him that I wanted more than anything for others to see “him” in me first and foremost. I asked for a “face like Moses must have had after his mountain-top experience with God.” I figured he must have looked physically like he had been with the God of the universe in an intimate and powerful way.

Do you “glow” Jesus? Do you “speak” Jesus, Do you”live” Jesus? Do you “represent” Jesus? Do you want “it all?” The everything He has to give us all. I do! I am not perfect, holy, righteous, pure or anything else on my own, but with “all his”poured on me, I am all those things and more, because He says so!