January 5 Reading: Genesis 11-12, Matthew 5:1-20, Psalm 4, Proverbs 1:11-13

The Beatitudes blow normal human thinking to bits; each of them opposes our natural thoughts, feelings and intents with the light of God's perfect Word. They are also a simple and helpful reminder for Christian living.

We are spiritually impoverished, and must remember that we have nothing to offer God to earn our place with him. We would never make it in this life without his gift of grace. When we recognize this fact, we must mourn over our sin and failure. Recognizing our sin and mourning over it tends to make us meek and humble before both God and other people and it causes us to hunger and thirst for the righteousness that only God can give.

This humble attitude of seeking God change the way we treat other people. Realizing our own poverty in spiritual things, we give up judgmentalism and a critical spirit, replacing it with God's mercy. We give to others the mercy God gives to us. As we mourn over sin, we are purified - our desire for this world and all that is in it replaced by a passion for God and his glory. The meekness that God is building into us causes us to become peacemakers instead of conflict-creators. Finally, we embrace any suffering that comes our way as we live out the righteousness of God.

At least that is how it is supposed to go. Obviously, we struggle with this high and noble calling. When our lives are stuck in neutral, when we are going nowhere fast in our walk with Christ, it helps to go back to the beginning, to square one. We must always remember that everything we are, everything we have, everything we ever will be - it all comes from God.

If my life is stuck in neutral, it may be because I have forgotten my own poverty and the fact that all the riches, all the power, and all the strength comes from him. I have likely either become self-centered and self-dependent, or I am seeking the things that this world offers. I must go back to the beginning and remember my poverty and dependence on the one who is able!

Lord, you are great and glorious. I am weak. Nothing. But I thank you that you can use me even in my weakness. It is about you and your power. Thank you, Lord.