Sun and Moon

The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. Psalm 104:19 NIV

Last year, we had a very dry summer. Some people were worried about their wells going dry and farmers struggled to get enough hay for their cows.  This year, the spring has been very wet and several towns are experiencing flooding.  You can’t predict the variations that happen from year to year in the weather.  That can make the natural world seem out of control, but it’s not.  The variations are all within parameters. We’ve never had two weeks of hot weather in January, or a month of snow in July.

The Psalmist reminds us that you can depend on the seasons happening in the right order just as the moon phases are consistent.  Seasonal weather can be challenging but the seasons themselves follow the usual pattern of winter, spring, summer, fall. In the same way, the length of the days has a set pattern. Scientist can tell you how long each day will be ten, or a hundred years from now because the sun is a steady force in our universe.

Life can be messy and full of unexpected challenges, or full of unexpected pleasant surprises just like the weather, but if I keep looking to God I’ll see that some things, like the sun and moon, are totally dependable.

Bookends

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 NIV

The bookends to the Beatitudes are the poor in spirit and those who are persecuted for their righteousness.  Both of them are promised the kingdom of heaven.  For me, these verses are a reality check.  Following Christ isn’t fun and games.  It’s going to involve looking into the darkness of my heart and experiencing the darkness of other people’s hearts.

We don't like to think about persecution when we think about being Christians, but that persecution is very real in many parts of the world.  Some people are imprisoned, others are killed or experience violence.  In Canada, the persecution is more subtle. It usually involves mockery, snubbing, relationship conflict, or job loss. There are definitely costs to walking the narrow way.

But the good news is that God promises the kingdom of heaven, his kingdom, his presence, his eternal love to those who do follow him.

Finite pain – infinite gain.

Peacemakers

Blessed are the pacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  Matthew 5:9 NIV

I can’t be a peacemaker unless I love people and work to understand them. So much conflict is based on misunderstanding and not knowing the full picture.  If I want to be a peacemaker, I need to be willing to listen and hear what others are saying. At the same time, to just go with any idea or action to avoid conflict when the idea or action is clearly misguided or wrong, would be to falsely presume that is peacemaking.  True peace only comes when people are aligned with God’s ways. The natural way of people is to want to be seen as better than others.  To feed into that mentality will never bring enduring peace.

Peacemakers are willing to put their own preferences aside and to sacrifice if it leads to a true loving  reconciliation. God modelled this through Jesus’ sacrifice that reconciles us to him.

Mercy

Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 NIV

When I have a right perspective of my shared humanity with others, complete with multiple shortcomings, it is easier to be merciful to others. In the Lord’s prayer, we ask God to forgive us as we forgive others. There is this tie-in between forgiving and being merciful and receiving forgiveness and mercy from God.

Sometimes our acts of mercy to others can influence them to be more merciful to us, but that doesn’t always happen. In the same way , we may forgive others who may not forgive us.

But God promises that if we are merciful, that we will see mercy. He certainly blesses me in kind ways that feel like mercy. How often he shows me how to get out of a mess I have created. How often in spite of my selfishness and anger he brings good out of a situation. His mercy encourages me to be more merciful and forgiving to others.

Righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV

God loves us to ask to be more like him.  Prayers for things like righteousness, humility, love, compassion are sure to be answered as they conform to God’s likeness. A longing for righteousness that involves actions leading in that direction will result in a person feeling satisfied. True satisfaction is not based on pride.  True satisfaction comes when we align ourselves with God’s goodness.

Our righteousness is also about knowing who we are in relation to God.  When we grasp that we are children of God, made in his likeness and a masterpiece of his creation, we have a right perspective of our connection to God. Righteousness is about being right in our thinking, about knowing what is true. It’s the truth that sets us free and makes us feel complete.