Reformers Unanimous Essay Report:
"Matthew 5:1-12"

In this portion Christ is speaking to His disciples. He lists eight or so types of attitudes people have that God is pleased with and brings happiness. All of them are things which the world would consider contrary to common sense. The world is not poor in spirit, but proud. The world doesn't want to mourn or lament, but wants to have fun and party all the time. Meekness is considered weakness by them, but meekness is strength under control, and not a sign of weakness, but true strength and self-control. Most people don't desire righteousness like they do food, in fact they desire the very opposite, but God says those who seek such righteousness will find it. Mercy is something not often shown in the world, but is the very thing every person wants to have from God when they die. Purity is also hard to find, even non-existent in a lost person, because God does not dwell inside him, he has no desire or reason to want to be pure and holy, but those who are are able to perceive God because He too is also pure and holy (1st Peter 1:16). The world is constantly at war with itself, nations fighting nations, and never has there been a time of peace since the fall. But believers in the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will try to make peace, and not conflict, and God even gives those who love His law great peace (Psalm 119:165). Persecution is to suffer wrongfully for the right thing without rebuke, and even to many Christians that is a hard thing to do, but those who endure suffering for Christ's sake will be glad they are counted worthy to do so by God (Acts 5:41). God says that if we do these things, and do according to His will, living our lives as Christ lived His own, we will be blessed, happy, joyful. We may never have alot of the things of this world, but those aren't what gives a man joy anyways, only God can give such lasting happiness, and those who desire to have it ought to adjust their attitudes according to God's way of thinking.

• 09/09/16 •