An Insightful Moment about Character (Matthew 5:1-12)

One of the first vivid descriptions that jumped out at me when I began to read Gire's Meditation was the phrase "...and cups his hand around the dimly burning wick of their souls." Wow! The dimly burning wick of their souls. What a visual representation of us before accepting Christ! One can just see the pain, the hurt, the starvation of the inner person lacking the bread of life. Then Christ begins to preach and offers hope. Christ doesn't present the way of salvation in this sermon. Rather this sermon showed how a person who is in right relationship with God should conduct his life. And for us today, it demonstrates the standard of righteousness God demands of His people.

(As I go through this passage sharing some thoughts I'll also share some of my notes which I have jotted down in my margins.)

Christ begins with the poor in spirit. Christ was speaking primarily about internal qualities which come about when we are properly related to God through faith, when one places his complete trust in God. The word for "poor" means "beggar...complete abject poverty, to crouch." Notice that it says "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The kingdom of heaven is theirs RIGHT now, not 'will be.' These are people who are poor inwardly, having no ability in themselves to please God.

Moving on to the word "mourn." It is the strongest Greek word to express pain and sorrow. They recognize their needs and present them to the One who is able to assist.

"Blessed are the meek." Meek is "power under control." They truly are humble and have a proper recognition and appreciation of their position.

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness have a spiritual appetite. There is a continuing desire for personal righteousness.

And the merciful ones will receive mercy...from who? From God. They in turn extend mercy to others. They demonstrate God's mercy which has been extended to them.

The pure in heart are those who are inwardly clean from sin through faith in God's provision and are continually acknowledging their sinful condition.

The peacemakers show others how to be instruments of peace in the world. Even though they encounter persecution, they desire righteousness and possess God's righteousness.

Being called "children of God" gives us dignity and we inherit all credits that would come with being adopted into the family.

What a contrast for these people to hear this because it sharply contrasts what the Pharisees were promoting. The Pharisees were pure ceremonially but certainly not inwardly.

I thoroughly enjoyed how Gire painted a picture of how Christ looks from these verses. His character is there for us to see. He is the standard which we strive to achieve.

I also liked his description of the Father crafting character in us. My understanding of a potter shaping his clay is the potter is forceful with the clay. He throws it on the wheel and then with the lightest of touches shapes the clay into the desired article. Yes, it hurts but really, in the grand scheme of things, it is but for a moment. It just doesn't feel like that to us.

I have heard people say so often when difficulty strikes, "Why me?" My question is always, "Why not you? Why not me?" What makes a Christian immune to trials and persecutions? How else will we be able to show God's grace, strength, compassion and mercy to others?

From my own experiences I can say that Christ is infinitely more satisfying than anything else. The older I get in the Lord, the more I desire Him, the more I thirst after Him. The more He completes me.