Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Winnie and I used to tell our kids when they were grumpy that we didn’t like their attitudes and that they had 3 minutes to change it. We used to quietly laugh as we would see their adorable faces scrunch up with determination. It always worked! A change of attitude starts from the inside. We ordered them to change how they were being.
One day Little Deannie tried reverse psychology. I heard mommy reprimanding Jr, and he answered in his little toddler voice “I don’t like your attitude.” Needless to say, that did not work out very well for Deannie.
Authorities dictate our attitudes, not the other way around. Authourities tell subordinates how to be.
Jesus, our ultimate authority, dictated what our attitudes are to be in what are called the Beatitudes. For the purpose of this writing I call it Be-Attitudes, but really, why are they called the Beatitudes? The word is from the Latin beatus, meaning “blessed,” or better put, ‘happy.’ Like any good authority, Jesus is telling us how to be truly happy, forever.
The Beatitudes describe the attitudes that you need to Be-having to be happy. Only evidenced when you are a Child of the Living God. Actually it’s kind of like the chicken and the egg philosophical debate. I believe you can’t Be-Having an attitude that will truly make you happy until you are born again.
I got saved by reading the beatitudes. The be-attitudes tell you what your attitude will be once you get saved. That was something I desperately needed. Many times reading the same beatitudes make different people want to get saved. Even Mahatma Ghandi was attracted to Christ through reading the beatitudes.
Our flesh, and wordly philosophies, are 180 degrees out of whack with Jesus’ beatitudes. I think an easy sign that you are born again is that your attitude and desires are completely different than before you were born again.
When you have the rebirth experience, you are a new creature, different. Sure you fail and fall, but your desire will be to conform to the beatitudes. If you follow them, you are happy. If you don’t you are are miserable. Your spirit is now dominant and it wants to please God, not your flesh.
Blessed people are Happy people.
Jesus tells us how our our attitudes will be once we get saved. They will become radically different from what tv, the world, your drill sergeant or your teacher would teach you.
- Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
- Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Jesus tell us, His children, to be light or to be the example. It will bless our lives and those around us.
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
God’s light within us shines the brightest when there is the sharpest of contrasts with this dark world.
Love your enemies, give two things when asked for one, turn the other cheek, and your attitude will reflect God the Son, the Son of God to this fallen world.