Matthew 5:9, The Message

"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."

Peacemakers. That word sounds like a movie title like "windtalkers" or "braveheart." I love the irony God has with this verse for me today. At work in Customer Relations, and even today in my personal life, I feel like I'm destined to be a peacemaker. I shouldn't say it like it's a bad thing. But sometimes I feel burdened by the responsibility that comes with keeping the peace. I don't do it well because it requires quite a lot of selflessness. Who feels like that's easy?? Sometimes you want to compete or fight. I love that cooperation doesn't mean boring, goodness knows I need a little excitement in the midst of harmony and cooperation. I wholeheartedly agree with this translation of the verse; peacemaking reveals who you really are and teaches you more about your place in God's family.

Peacekeeping is always rewarding and you don't remember the sacrifices in the end - you remember that God worked through your life and it makes everything worth it.

Matthew 5:8, NIV

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

My name means "pure one" and this verse is often associated with the meaning. I suppose "seeing God" could take many forms. You can see God in His word, in other people, in creation, through a life lesson, in a movie, in hindsight, etc. I believe what this verse is really telling us is that if you open your eyes and heart to God's simple, but pure, truth -- you'll see Him. It's hard to see God with a cynical or skeptical heart. It's hard to see God with a judgmental or critical mind. You are blessed if you focus your mind and heart on things pleasing to the Lord, because then you will see God.

Hey - this sounds completely different in the The Message! Read this: "You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world." That's what I just said up there! (well basically...)

Matthew 5:7, NIV

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Mercy | compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power ; also : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.

After reading that description, who doesn't want mercy? After reading that description, who wants to give mercy? That's a little more difficult. I have a hard time showing mercy to an offender. I want revenge. I struggle with showing mercy to someone considered "lower" than me. Yet, knowing that if I show mercy I'll also receive mercy, why don't I obey this scripture more often? Clearly, this is yet another instance in which I am helpless and God needs to step in and teach me how. As the Author of mercy, and the only One who can effortlessly extend mercy to all, I can only hope and pray that God will continue to show me mercy when I'm undeserving so I can learn how to do the same.

Matthew 5:6, The Message and NIV

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."

I have felt more "full" in the last week since I've begun spending a few minutes of my day in scripture than I have felt in a while. It's such a good use of my time, not nearly enough of my time in comparison to what God deserves or desires. But, nonethless, I'm enjoying my daily message. I don't know who reads it, if anyone even does. But I'm not writing these things for other people, I'm writing them for me and God. I enjoy finding the time, even if it's just a few minutes, to think about a verse or two and translate those thoughts into words so there is evidence of my efforts to grow close to the Lord. And, just as this verse says, I'm hungering and thirsting for more of this as the days continue. God is satisfying and I'm grateful!

Matthew 5:5, The Message

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

God gives us a lot of blessings when we live a servant-attitude life. So far, the main theme I'm seeing in the beatitudes is humbleness. You could say Christ-likeness too, that really sums it all up. We're to be like Christ. Simple. What Would Jesus Do? Fully Rely on God. Greater is He Who is within you than he who is in the world. Look unto Jesus. Cast all your cares. This is the theme of our generation, past generations, and all humankind to come.

I'm accustomed to reading this verse "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." But I like how The Message phrases this one. Contentment and authenticity have become a quest for my life. I think it all started in high school, or even junior high, when I began to wonder why things and people were the way they were. I didn't like pretending, I liked raw emotion. I didn't like false, I thrived on seeking the truth. This is when I realized that as Christians we should not look alike. We can believe the same truths without being morphed into some creepy identical lump of people. I can practice my beliefs in a way that is personalized to me, Katie, and still in line with what pleases God. So I'm enjoying the affirmation given in scripture that we're blessed when we recognize what wonderful creations we are.