Discovering True Joy in Christ

A New Way of Seeing: Part 1

Dear reader, thanks for joining me for today’s exploration of what it means to walk with Christ. As we explore the depths of Christ’s teachings together, my prayer is that you’ll find encouragement and wisdom to apply in your daily walk with our Lord.

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Restless Hearts

When do you find yourself struggling most with being discontent? When are you more likely to experience restlessness and anxiety? What’s usually happening in your life when you’re least likely to have joy?

These questions strike at the heart of our human experience. Like Augustine of Hippo, who famously wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you,” we often find ourselves grappling with inner turmoil. The threats to our peace, joy, and contentment typically stem from four areas of our lives:

1. Circumstances – what happens to us

2. People – our various relationships

3. Things – our material possessions

4. Status – what others think of us

These four areas frequently chip away at our sense of well-being, leaving us feeling adrift in a sea of discontent.

A New Perspective

In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus offers us a radical reorientation – a new way of seeing that can transform our lives. This shift in perspective has the power to help us find and maintain the peace, joy, and contentment God desires for us.

These verses, known as the Beatitudes, form the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. While the entire sermon is profoundly convicting, the Beatitudes stand out as some of the most beautiful words in Scripture. They serve as the foundation for everything else Jesus teaches in this discourse.

Character Over Conduct

Often, when we think of the Christian life, we focus on behavior – how we act. Yet, Jesus begins his sermon by emphasizing the character of the Christian, what’s happening on the inside. He’s saying, “This is what every Christian’s character should be.” If we want to behave in a Christian way, we must first cultivate the character Jesus describes, for it’s this inner transformation that will shape our outward behavior.

As C.S. Lewis astutely observed in Mere Christianity, “The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You.’”

The Beatitudes present eight virtues or character traits:

1. A poverty of spirit

2. Mourning over sin

3. Meekness

4. A hunger and thirst for righteousness

5. Mercy

6. Purity of heart

7. A desire for peace

8. Seeking righteousness, regardless of the consequences

These virtues collectively paint a portrait of what every Christian is called to embody. It’s not a buffet where we can pick and choose; rather, it’s a comprehensive depiction of Christlike character.

Blessed Indeed

Each virtue is preceded by the word “Blessed.” This blessing isn’t something we achieve; it’s a gift from God. Christ promises these blessings when these virtues describe us, and it’s from these blessings that we begin to receive the inner satisfaction of peace, joy, and contentment.

Crucially, these blessings don’t depend on outward circumstances, relationships, possessions, or others’ opinions of us. They stem from an eternal perspective, one that sees life as God does.

As we conclude this first part of our exploration, I encourage you to reflect on how you might begin to cultivate this new way of seeing in your own life. In our next post, we’ll delve deeper into how this perspective differs from the world’s view and how we can practically apply these teachings.

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Thank you for joining me in this reflection. If you’ve found this post helpful, I invite you to share it with others who might benefit from this message of hope and transformation. Together, let’s continue to grow in our walk with Christ.

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Questions for Reflection

1. Which of the four areas (circumstances, people, things, status) most often threatens your peace and contentment? Why do you think that is?

2. How does Jesus’ emphasis on inner character challenge your current understanding of the Christian life?

3. Which of the eight virtues listed in the Beatitudes do you find most challenging to cultivate? Why?

4. Can you recall a time when you experienced God’s blessing despite difficult circumstances? How did that experience shape your faith?

5. How might your life look different if you consistently viewed it through God’s eternal perspective rather than a temporal one?

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Action Steps

1. Read Matthew 5:1-12 each day this week, focusing on a different Beatitude each time. Journal about how that particular virtue might manifest in your daily life.

2. Identify one area where you’re seeking blessing through temporal means (e.g., a job, relationship, possession). Pray for God’s guidance in finding true blessing through cultivating Christlike character in that situation.

3. Share the concept of “blessed” as Jesus defines it with a friend or family member. Discuss how this understanding might change your approach to challenges in life.

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