Happy

Welcome to week 2 of our study in the book of Matthew. 

 

Scripture:  Matthew 5:1–12

 

Observation:  Have you ever met someone or perhaps said it yourself when asked, “How are you?”  You or the person you ask reply, “Blessed”.  When you think about it, we truly are blessed people!  But the description in this passage is not what we think of, right?  On the surface this passage seems to say blessed are the hungry, poor and mourning.    

 

Blessed in the Greek means is from the Strong’s 3107 makários (from mak-, "become long, large") – properly, when God extends His benefits (the advantages He confers); blessed.

 

It is tied to the Hebrew word “esher” as seen in Psalms 1:1 esher: happiness, blessedness

Original Word: אַשְׁרֵי.

 

Another way to read this passage then is to replace the word “blessed” for the word “happy”. 

 

Happy are the poor in spirit.  What does this mean?  It means we depend on God for everything.  Without this realization we can never enter into God’s kingdom.  If we can depend on ourselves for everything, then why would we need Him?  We must turn over EVERY area of our life to Him.  E.V.E.R.Y. area.

 

So this realization that we must depend on Him should lead us to a brokenness or times of mourning.  As we cry out to Him we will find comfort for our souls.  He will lead and guide us in ways we could never imagine.  This has been my personal experience and I hope you also have seen this in your life.

 

Then we are humbled by His Amazing Grace!  We realize everything we have comes from Him and He becomes our everything.  Then there is nothing we can boast in – ever!  We give Him all credit and glory.

 

As we continue to move through the verses we can see the progression.  As I realize my increasing dependence on Him and confess this to Him and become humble then I begin to crave more and more of Him.  I begin to hunger and thirst for more and more.  I can never be satisfied apart from Him and yet in that satisfaction I long for more.  He fills me and I empty out more of myself.   This becomes a cycle, a way of life.  Emptying myself and filling up on Him.  Are you sensing the joy and happiness of this way of life?  Check the mirror, you may even see a smile coming over your face as you think about the goodness of our Father who does these things for us.

 

As we realize HOW MUCH He has done for us then we begin to extend that outwardly to others by showing them the same grace and mercy that He has shown us, but we can never match it because truly how much has He given me?  Way beyond what I could ever do for someone else!

 

Application:  What do these verses teach me? How can they help me?  Sometimes, Believers suffer for the wrong reasons.  How do these verses encourage you to stand strong?

 

Prayer:  Father in Heaven, we are so very blessed and truly the most happiest when we are following after you and living in complete dependence upon you.  Help us to realize that apart from you we are nothing, we can’t even be happy!  Thank You for your rich grace and mercy that You pour out on us and may we bless others, even today, by showing them Your mercy and grace through our actions and words.  Father, Thank You!  Toda Abba!  Through Christ who taught us by His example how to live in Your Kingdom I pray, Amen & Amen

 

Real disciples will:

· have a humble trust in God

· depend on God for everything

· be gentle and holy.

 

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven …

Matthew 5:12a