We are Blessed - Part Two

This morning I was driving home from the chiropractor and saw a sign that had one of the beatitudes on it - I honestly don't remember which one.  But I got to thinking about being blessed, what it means, and the post yesterday.

Here are the beatitudes, from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, verses 3-12:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  
Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

I've always taken this message as blessed meaning, highly favored.  And I definitely think that's true.  But what if we applied the definition of blessed that we talked about this weekend?  Sacred.  Set apart.  Holy.  

Sacred are the poor in spirit.
Set apart are those who mourn.
Holy are the meek.

See what I mean?  It adds a whole new dimension of understanding for me.  I'm looking at this passage of scripture in a whole new light.

What I'm seeing is, that those who Jesus called out in this sermon aren't victim.  They aren't poor in spirit victims.  They are sacred, ordained, poor in spirit holy ones.  Those who mourn aren't at the mercy of the Grim Reaper.  They are sanctified.  Those who are meek were created that way, uniquely ordained, consecrated for a special purpose.

To me it's interesting to think that these Beatitudes are celebrations of people throughout the millenniums who might not seem as if they are on the "high side" of life.  But they were blessed upon their creation, when they were knit together in their mother's womb, and it wasn't an accident that they are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers.  Even persecuted.  

God ordained them for a special purpose.  How wonderful to think that being meek is your special purpose.  How majestic is God to create and bless some to be peacemakers.


How wonderful He is!