November 29: CHRIST CHALLENGES SELF-RIGHTEOUS

Some followers of Jesus have persisted in trying to make a religion out of the teachings of Jesus. It is easier to make a list of “dos and don’ts” than to live by principles. Religious rules make it easier to exclude people who are different. The blockbuster that Jesus exploded that day on the mountainside (Matthew 5:1-12) was a well-thought-out manifesto of the principles of the kingdom of God that He came to introduce. Living in a personal relationship with Jesus, as a citizen of the kingdom, would be no memorization of rules and checking off deeds done but a dynamic living to make a difference.
The principles given would be a daily guide for a lifetime. There has been nothing like it, either before or after the earthly years of Jesus.
Generally known as the Beatitudes, I like to call them “be-attitudes” as they describe a state of being. The very common word “blessed” that introduces each principle can be translated “to be congratulated”.
This is revolutionary! This was the first salvo Jesus fired against the self-righteousness of the world and all established religions. He never retracted a word of it! He was starting a lifestyle movement, and He would perfectly exemplify it.
Listen: “To be congratulated are those who wake up to their spiritual poverty, who weep for the world’s spiritual needs, who live disciplined lives, who crave intensely to do right, who identify with the pain in the world, who have a single-minded desire to see God, who hate war, who don’t fear persecution for doing right, who are not ashamed to admit that they are followers of Jesus and do it all with a sense of joy”.
I tell you, this is radical. The definition of Christian was “little Christ”. (Acts 11:26) A contemptuous title! Scandalous!
But the key to a meaningful and purposeful life is found here.

“Father God, we have watered down and compromised the teachings of
Jesus for too long. Help us to get back on track. Amen”