Blessed Are You… The Beatitudes, Jesus’ words of blessings to all who seek Him. They give us guidance on qualities of spiritual life that we should strive to live out daily.  In effect, they are the reverse of what the world might consider valuable assets.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He told the crowds who were listening that they should “watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them… A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit… Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-20 NIV)

The Apostle Paul explains that “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

In aiming to follow our Lord’s guiding wisdom, we seek an intimate relationship with God in reverence. Sharing love generously like Jesus, we don’t compromise values or morals, maintaining a listening ear to the Holy Spirit’s guidance within us. And we remember Jesus’ words to “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than this.” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV)

But left to my own devices, I indeed fail. I need to follow wisdom far greater than my finite mind.  In writing my poem below, my hope was to rephrase Jesus’ words of perfect love for us into thoughts from my own understanding... not to take anything away from what our Lord said, but simply to add contemporary meaning and dimension as I focused on His guiding words.  Continuing to read Matthew chapters 5 through 7, more paraphrasing into poetic verse came to mind.

From there, further rephrasing of Scripture from Philippians 4 seemed to fit the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  Contemplating Jesus’ teaching through the “Beatitudes” to His disciples and the crowds of followers, how might we relate His great words of wisdom as we go about our day… among family and friends, and at work or in school?

Again, it is not my intent to take anything away from God’s Holy Word, but to add dimension for our hearts to contemplate as we bring His words into our daily life… an exercise illuminating how great His love is for each of us.

Blessed Are You

Linda A. Roorda

(Based on Matthew 5-7 and Philippians 4)

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Blessed are you with no hope left but God

For you will know acceptance by Him.

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Blessed are you whose heart has been broken

For you will find your comfort in Him.

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Blessed are you with humility mild

For you will show His love from your heart.

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Blessed are you whose heart seeks His will

For you will share the wisdom of God.

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Blessed are you when hurting and stressed

For you will have a life filled with mercy.

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Blessed are you untainted by vice

For you will have a pure heart before God.

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Blessed are you who humbly seek peace

For you will be a true child of God.

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Blessed are you when mocked for your faith

For you will stand firm with the Lord at your side.

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Rejoice and be glad as salt of the earth

For you shine forth His light from your heart.

Then be reconciled to those you offend

That peace may abound in the hearts of all men.

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Love your enemy as your neighbor dear

That you may be called a child of our God.

And blessed are you on forgiving those

When they have sinned against you and our Lord.

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And worry not what the future holds

For your Father knows the needs of your life.

Ask, seek and find, knock to open doors

For our Father waits to bless through His will.

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Broad is the path to destruction goes

But narrow the gate that leads us to Life.

For as the good tree will bear its best fruit

So we shall see the fruit of our deeds.

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Thus, he who hears must show in his life

The wisdom found in the house which he builds.

For that upon sand cannot withstand storms

While that built on rock stands firm in the Truth.

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Do not be anxious, but think on these things

And with thanksgiving send prayers to our God

That content you’ll be regardless the task

Knowing you can work through His strength alone.

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Stand firm in the Lord, press on to the goal

Guard well your heart and mind in the Lord

For He gives peace beyond understanding

Rejoicing always in His gentle spirit.

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For whatever is true, whatever is honest,

Whatever is right, whatever is pure,

Whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,

Whatever is excellent, whatever worth praise…

Think on these things and blessed you shall be.

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