Beatitudes: Discipleship through the Beatitudes - 4

I have previously looked at the beatitudes as attributes of a weak person. I didn't go far enough. Not weak, but broken. Characteristics of a disciple of Jesus. Continuing our series on brokenness based on the Beatitudes we look at: “Blessed are the broken who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

The desire for fulfillment is basic to each of us. Our tendency is to hunger and thirst for things of the world or from relationships. We think that more possessions, a new house, a new wife or the approval of others will satisfy us. Instead, this passage is telling us to look in the right direction for satisfaction, seeking resources from and receiving from God - His joy, patience, peace and love for others. His Word and Holy Spirit accomplish righteousness. The Message reads: You are blessed when you work up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. Hunger and thirst – a deep passion for the Christ-life rather than the self-life.

Blessed are the broken who are merciful. They give mercy and forgiveness as they have received it. They are filled with godly compassion that overflows to those around. Those who are merciful experience God's mercy.

Blessed are the broken who are pure in heart. They keep their hearts pure in grateful response to the forgiveness and restoration God has given them. They allow God’s Word to purify them as they walk out their sainthood by obedience and in the power of the Holy Spirit. A believer in Christ is really a saint. We are to think like a saint – act like a saint. Pure in heart.

Blessed are the broken who are peacemakers. With humility, gentleness, mercy and obedience they can reconcile man with man and man with God. They model transparency. They honestly confront barriers in relationships.

Blessed are the broken who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Those who typify the beatitudes will be ridiculed, misunderstood, slandered. They march to a different drum than the world. Their light will expose darkness. And for those walking in darkness, the light is uncomfortable.

Tomorrow we'll look at a summary of what we've covered in the last 4 posts.