RealDisciples’ Weblog

We see it everywhere. It has invaded our society to it’s very core. Turn on the TV or pick up a magazine and the ads shout at us constantly the need to look beautiful. Trim down, shape up is the standard being thrown at us from all around. It is time to refocus. Let’s back up and take a good hard look at what is really being said.

“Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous – possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”  Matt. 5:8 amp

This passage offers a stark contrast to what we are being bombarded with everyday. When we come into agreement with the Lord and begin to see us as He sees us we have a strong stance the cultural invasion. We should never compare ourselves to any standard other than the Lord’s for His opinion is what really matters.

This one verse can set you free if you will allow it to really sink in. When the Lord says you are blessed He is saying you have at your beck and call the ability to be happy. You can know and feel you are enviably fortunate, spiritually prosperous. You can know and possess the happiness which is produced by your personal experience of God’s favor; when we are especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace. All this regardless of our outward condition. When we are pure in heart we shall see God.

God is evident only when we are looking with seeing eyes, those which are truly seeking to know Him. Our true beauty comes from within, regardless of our outward conditions. Those conditions are subject to change. All we need to do is eat less, exercise more, live a healthier lifestyle. But through it all, God sees us as He created us, fearlessly and wondrously made and beautiful in His sight.

I like the Amplified Bible transliteration in this instance because it encapsulates and conveys the fullest meaning of the word most commonly translated, Blessed. In all the beginning verses in the Sermon on the Mount and in the Sermon of the Plains, Blessed is the first word used. And I love to be blessed because I know what the scriptures are actually saying. But I studied long and hard, laboring over the Greek, to discover the riches found in that one word. It was 1980 when I was given as a gift my first copy of the Amplified Version and Matt 5 was the first place I turned to see just how it read. I was astounded to find it confirmed my studies to the fullest.

Today we focus on something that is essential to our well being. This is a mind-set that you take on regardless of the circumstances or situations you are presently experiencing. Circumstance actually has little to do anything, other than offer us the opportunity to grow.

My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:13-14

Let’s take a closer look at what is being said here. The principle point that strikes me is ‘Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press on toward the mark for the prize…” To many times we focus on our past, the mistakes and failures we’ve made.

Instead, we need to heed this advice and leave it behind. None of us can go back and change a single thing. To continue to focus on ‘it’ only empowers it to rob us of the victory we have in the moment. ‘It’ is defined here as whatever you are complaining about, regretting, or worrying about.

Don’t curse your feebleness; instead, press on with your program to make yourself stronger. Move beyond regretting with ‘right thinking’ and positive actions toward your goals. Substitute ignorance with the knowledge you need to reach true success, happiness and fulfillment.

The last part of the verse speaks of ‘the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ Seeking Him first will keep our priorities in order and all these things will be added unto you.

Real Disciples are Destined by Decision! Do it today for a better tomorrow.