Matthew 5:1-12 Are we REALLY HAPPY?

It is amazing having the Bible to read. Right through the Old Testament, the New Testament and on into the present time, the Kingdom of God is "God's People in God's Place under God's rule and blessing" That includes us now, of course, here in Bexhill.

 

 

Today's reading is part of the Sermon on the Mount which gives us many of things Jesus said to, and taught, the people during his three years or so of ministry. We read that Jesus SAT, which was usual when a Rabbi was teaching. These first few verses are often called the Beatitudes because the Latin word "Beatus" means "Really Happy". They list various circumstances which the people Jesus was speaking to may have found themselves in. We, too, often find ourselves in similar situations.

 

 

During our service, we thought about various short phrases or sentences that might describe the 9 situations that Jesus was describing. My suggestions were:

for verse 3: Know we need to depend on God;

for verse 4: Sad because of death or suffering

for verse 5: Need for humility before God

for verse 6: Eager to do what God wants

for verse 7: Willing to forgive others

for verse 8: Sincere on the inside as well as on the outside

for verse 9: Trying to establish better relationships

for verse 10: Undergoing persecution for our beliefs

for verse 11: Bearing false accusations

 

 

We summarised these teachings with:Trusting God will give us joy despite our circumstances.

 

 

We all go through difficult times but God has told us that if we accept and follow Jesus we will have the Eternal Life he has promised after we die.

 

 

You may like to have a go at producing your own phrases/sentences like we were doing during the service. Why not share them on the blog? It will help us all.