Thinking about the Beatitudes

I have spent the previous weeks preaching from the Beatitudes.

These have been very meaningful to me in my personal walk with the Lord. I have expressed to the congregation at Calera Baptist that the testings and Satanic attacks have been very strong during this series of messages.

I will finish the series this Sunday with Jesus' word's on persecution. These words are convicting and very sobering as we consider whether we have seen persecution, yet the apostle Paul says, "All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, will be persecuted."
2 Tim. 3:12.

I must ask myself the question, "Am I truly living a godly life? Or do I even desire to live a godly life?" Yet, at the same time I am not suffering persecution.


I read the following on the Beatitudes written by J.C. Ryle in 1856. His words are convicting:

"Let us learn how entirely contrary are the principles of Christ to the principles of the world. It is vain to deny it. They are almost diametrically opposed. The very characters which the Lord Jesus praises, the world despises. The very pride, and thoughtlessness, and high tempers, and worldliness, and selfishness, and formality, and unlovingness, which abound everywhere, the Lord Jesus condemns.

Let us learn how unhappily different is the teaching of Christ from the practice of many professing Christians. Where shall we find men and women among those who go to churches and chapels, who are striving to live up to the pattern we have read of today? Alas! there is much reason to fear, that many baptized people are utterly ignorant of what the New Testament contains.

Above all let us learn how holy and spiritual-minded all believers should be. They should never aim at any standard lower than that of the sermon on the mount. Christianity is eminently a practical religion. Sound doctrine is its root and foundation, but holy living should always be its fruit. And if we would know what holy living is, let us often bethink ourselves who they are that Jesus calls 'blessed.' "

Gripped by Grace,
Hal

Happy New Year

I got started early this morning because I needed to be at Children's Hosp. early. After that I paid another visit to a hospital then ran some errands for the office, among other things. Up to that point all is well and I am glad to have been used of the Lord to touch some lives.

However,when I have a number of important and necessary things on my to-do list I tend to get my head going ahead of myself and can get frustrated at myself when, by my timing, I fall behind.

Coming into Calera at 11:00 a.m. I decided to take an early lunch and get back to the office to get some things done there before a 2:30 p.m. appointment I have with someone.

I was sitting eating lunch with DeeDee and Aubrey which is a great treat and as I helped clean up a little I noticed I was off my schedule. I put it in high gear and rushed around the house then took off down the stairs to the car. I got in the garage with my calendar, my Calvin's Institutes book and a big bag of garbage and realized I forgot my cell phone, arrgh. So I put the garbage in the can, my calendar and book on the back of the car and ran upstairs to get my phone. I got the phone ran back downstairs and grabbed my calendar and book jumped in my car and backed out. Then I realized I forgot my laptop aarrggh!! again.

I backed into the driveway ran in the house, hollered up at DeeDee, "I forgot my silly laptop!" I was not happy with myself. Then I heard the voice of a two year old from upstairs for no reason say, "Happy New Year, Poppa".

Ouch!! I am preaching the blessedness, (happiness) of the believer from the Beatitudes, yet I am all out of sorts over being behind a little bit, and it's my fault.

Maybe it only spoke to me but I needed to share this with somebody and since I don't blog, DeeDee says I should (arrggh), this was the best place to share this. *** sidenote - DeeDee has posted this on the blog***

Are you in a "snit" over something? Take it from me, it doesn't help matters. Instead listen to a two year old, "Happy New Year". If we live for the Lord even when we fall behind or our money gets short, personally and in business, or any other thing happens, we need to look at the Beatitudes and make sure our life matches up and then we can say, "Happy New Year".

Well, that is what it said to me, anyway.

Happy New Year,
Hal