The Beatitudes: He Satisfies

The Beatitudes: He Satisfies

Bible Blast: Read Matthew 5:1-12

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3

Welcome to Matthew 5! This is one of the most-quoted parts of the Bible and is called the Beatitudes, which is a word taken from the Latin word for “happiness.” We’ll just call them “The Blessed Bs.” In these Beatitudes, when it says “God blesses,” it means that God “fully satisfies or makes happy.” So these Blessed Bs are kind of a GPS for happiness. There are eight of them, so we’re going to take eight days to focus on them. Let’s get started!

Picture Jesus up on the mountainside. Crowds of people have gathered to hear him talk. Jesus opens his mouth and says, “God blesses those who are poor.”

Some of his followers may have whispered, “What? God blesses the poor? I’m poor and he’s not giving me any money!”

Then they hear the second part: “And realize their need for him.”

The lightbulb may have gone on in their heads. “Oh, I get it! I’m not supposed to be focused on my need for cash. I have to realize that I need the Lord more than anything, even money.”

When Jesus was talking about the poor in this verse, he wasn’t just talking about people who don’t have money. He was talking about those who are “poor in spirit,” desperate for love because they didn’t have any in their own lives.

What does Jesus say the poor and poor in spirit get to look forward to? He promises a closer relationship with God. God was redirecting their focus.

Do you focus on what you don’t have? Maybe you don’t get to go on big vacations like some people, or maybe your mom is single and struggles to put good food on the table. Maybe you don’t have a dad who spends time with you. Don’t focus on those things, Jesus encourages. Focus on Christ’s promise of heaven, and you’ll feel happier.

That’s an awesome Blessed B!

Girl Gab: Daughters, tell your mom some experience or feeling that you tend to focus on that’s negative. Mom, help your daughter think of a few ways that this hardship can be a blessing if she focuses on the good rather than the bad. Pray about that hardship, and look forward to God making it all right when you get to heaven one day.