Kingdom People and how they live
In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus gives us the beatitudes. What he will do through his sermon on the mount is give those listening and us reading an understanding of the kingdom that he is ushering in.
Jesus is a new type of King and started a new type of kingdom. Throughout this series, we’ve discussed that in different ways.
We said that right side up is upside down. Meaning that our culture and religion are flipped on their heads by the teaching and message of Jesus.
We also said that a blessed life, according to Jesus, is not what you think it is. Those who are truly blessed in his new kingdom are the down and out.
But what does it actually look like to live as a follower of Jesus? How does our life play out as people living in this new kingdom?
In the 80s, there was a TV show called the lifestyles of the rich and famous. This show would take you “behind the scenes” and show you the houses, cars, and a peek into the lifestyle of the most famous and influential people in the world.
Jesus is giving us a peek behind the curtain into the way that people who are a part of his kingdom live. He teaches that people who are a part of his kingdom are people of purity, peace, and persistence in the face of persecution.
“Blessed are the pure and heart” he says in Matthew 5:8. Now this is not talking about the muscle in your chest pumping blood for your body, but the idea of your heart is speaking to your inner person, the essence of your being.
It was this that the Salma wrote about in Psalm 24:3-4, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.” (CSB)
People of a pure or righteous heart are people who are blessed according to the teaching of Jesus. They will see God at work in the world around them.
I think it’s important that we consider if we aren’t seeing God’s blessing in some area of our lives. We should always consider if they’re sin in the way. That doesn’t mean that this is always the case.
Many times God‘s blessing may just not be what we perceive, or our perspective might need to change. Also, there are times when sin stands in the way of us experiencing God’s presence fully.
This is why those with a pure heart are blessed. These people experience God like never before.
“Blessed are the peacemakers”, Jesus continues. I love the way that verse nine is translated in the Message translation. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” (Matthew 5:9 MSG)
Think about it, is your life an example of peace to the people around you? Jesus said in John 14:27, that he was leading his peace with us.
Are we people who bring those who are divided together? Do we bring with us a spirit of peace? What would happen if someone went through the power of the Holy Spirit, walked into the places where you work, live, and play tomorrow, full of peace?
Lastly, Jesus says that the persecuted are blessed. If you read Matthew 5:10-12, you might notice something important. Jesus does not say if you are persecuted for his namesake; he says when you are persecuted…
Faith faithfully following Jesus will never be fully celebrated by the world. The message of Scripture is clear that kingdom living will always bring criticism.
“Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13 CSB)
“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18 CSB)
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12 CSB)
The world is not always going to like us. It’s good news that we don’t find our validation from culture. We should not be controlled by what the world says. We’re part of another kingdom, which means we aren’t living for the temporary.
Opposition should be expected when we live for Jesus. In his teaching, Jesus reminds the people of the prophets. People who were slandered, hunted down, and hated. All for just being obedient to God.
So what is the way of Jesus? What does it mean to truly live a blessed life? It’s important to understand. It will turn everything upside down. Blessings aren’t always what we think they are. And to be kingdom people, we live differently because we are not of this world.
