God Blesses

I was reading in Matthew 5, we call them the Beatitudes but I would want to call them the "stay-awayattudes."  I was using the New Living Translation and I want to list the attributes that Jesus claims God blesses…

• those who are poor and realize their need for him
• those who mourn
• those who are humble
• those who hunger and thirst for justice
• those who are merciful
• those who are pure in heart
• those who work for peace
• those who are persecuted for doing right
• when people mock you and persecute you and say all sorts of evil against you because you are my followers

Um…maybe it’s just me but don’t we spend most of our lives making sure we aren’t placed in these categories… Blessed are the

• those who are self-sufficient 
• those who are self-confident
• those who can get away with it
• those who are powerful
• those who can get what they want
• those who win the war (game, conflict)
• those who live in comfort
• when people praise you, love you, and all sorts of good because you are a good person
  

If we are running after money, prestige, and influence; then we should expect our blessing to come from these arenas.  If we are seeking the Kingdom of God, then our blessings will come from God.  Keep your flavor…salt of the earth!  Shine like the city on the hill and be different, the world needs to see it.