Blessings and Woes

Jesus and the Just Reign of God
God Sends Jesus
How to Live as God's People

Luke 6:20-26

The Message

You’re Blessed

^17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:

You’re blessed when you’ve lost it all.
God’s kingdom is there for the finding.
You’re blessed when you’re ravenously hungry.
Then you’re ready for the Messianic meal.
You’re blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.

^22-23 “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.

Give Away Your Life

²⁴ But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
    What you have is all you’ll ever get.

²⁵ And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.
    Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.
    There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.

²⁶ “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

For Reflection

The cry of the revelers in the 1960's  was "drop out and tune in."  It was an age of discovering self and the importance of self was paramount.  In many ways we are still influenced by the elevated importance of the secular individual.  So much so that many have commented that the common good suffers from too much pressure to protect individual rights.

Those who dropped out to find themselves rarely did so.  The truth of the matter is that one can only find him self by losing himself in something superordinate.  Those who are ravenously hungry for a purpose in life were as blessed then as they are now.  The have the motive to seek their spiritual value.  Those who find purpose in life find it in being the person God has intended them to be. 

Pray

that you will follow the path God intends for you.  Pray to have patience and perseverance as you engage the obstacles that block the achievement of  your God fulfilling self.