Greatly Advantaged 4/8
To re-cap, we have so far covered the; “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit,” “Blessed are they that mourn,” “Blessed are the Meek,” “Blessed are they that do Hunger and thirst after Righteousness,” “Blessed are the Merciful,” “Blessed are the Pure in Heart.” This covers a vast portion of our “Daily Lives” and is such an encouragement to us all as we have mastered these skills to our current level, and then encourages us to press on towards a higher level of daily living, so let us press on to the next list of “Blessed’s” and “Greatly Advantaged.”
“Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the children of God.” Our Heavenly Father is a God of peace. When he created man he placed him in an abode of peace and security. All was unity and happiness in the Garden of Eden. Those who are partakers of the divine nature will love peace and contentment; they will cultivate the virtues that insure those results. They will seek to allay wrath, to quiet resentment and fault finding, and all the evil passions that foster quarrels and dissensions. The more men unite with the world, and fall into its ways, the less they have of the true elements of peace in their hearts, and the more they are leavened with the bitterness of worldly strife, jealousy, and evil thoughts toward each other, which only needs certain circumstances to develop them into active agents for evil. Those whose anger kindles at slight provocations, and those who watch the words and acts of others to secretly report them where they will stir up enmity, are the direct opposite of the peace-makers who are called the children of God.
The true Christian will in his intercourse with men suppress words that would tend to produce unnecessary anger and strife. All Heaven is at peace, and those who are closely connected with Christ will be in harmony with Heaven. Jesus declared: “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but in me ye shall have peace.” Those who are in sympathy with the Saviour will not be restless and dissatisfied. They will partake of the nature of Christ, and their lives will emulate his example.
The multitudes were amazed at this doctrine, so at variance with the precepts and example of the scribes and Pharisees. The people had imbibed the idea from them that happiness consisted in the possession of the things of this world, and that fame and the honour of men were much to be coveted. It was very pleasing to be called “Rabbi,” and to be extolled as very wise and religious, having their virtues paraded before the public. This was considered the crown of happiness. But Jesus, in the presence of that vast throng, declared that earthly gain and honour was all the reward such persons would ever receive. Jesus spoke with certainty, and a convincing power attended his words. The people were silenced, and a feeling of fear crept over them. They looked at each other doubtfully. Who of them would be saved if this man’s teachings were true? Many were deeply convicted that this remarkable teacher was actuated by the Spirit of God, and that the sentiments he uttered were divine.
These lessons of instruction were particularly calculated to benefit the disciples, whose lives would be governed by the principles therein taught. It was to be their work to impart the divine knowledge they derived from Jesus, to the world. It was their task to spread the gospel far and wide among the people of all lands, and it was very important that all the lessons of Jesus should be plain to their minds, stamped upon their memories, and incorporated in their lives. Every truth was to be stored away in their minds and hearts for future use.
After Jesus had explained to the people what constituted true happiness, and how it could be obtained, he more definitely pointed out the duty of his disciples, as teachers chosen of God to lead others into the path of righteousness and eternal life. He knew that they would often suffer from disappointment and discouragement, that they would meet with decided opposition, that they would be insulted, and their testimony rejected. His penetrating eye looked down the coming years of their ministry, and saw the sorrow and abuse that would attend their efforts to lead men to salvation. Well he knew that the humble men who listened so attentively to his words were to bear, in the fulfilment of their mission, calumny, torture, imprisonment and death, and he continues:– {2SP 209-11}
Dear Reader; Are you like me being challenged and chastised by our daily victories and some “falling short of the mark” in our daily interactions of our daily lives. We have just covered; “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” and in the world that we live in with harmony and unity so greatly lacking wherever you look, we are challenged to “Make Peace and not War.” Jesus has covered such a lot of ground in a short space of time, and we all want to be treated by others by these types of courtesy, but this Sermon is encouraging us to build more of these “Compassions” into our own lives and to practice them daily and to perfect them with everybody that we come in contact with. Why not start with your own family, and to practice on them, and then expand it to everybody else.
