Kingdom Goals (2)

Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (5)

Pray Psalm 84.5-7.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.

Sing Psalm 84.5-7.
(Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
Blessed are they whose strength is founded in Your strength, O LORD above.
All whose hearts in You are grounded journey in Your strength and love. 
Though they weep with tears of sadness, grace shall all their way sustain. 
In Your presence, filled with gladness, they shall conquer all their pain.

Read Matthew 5.1-10; meditate on verses 9, 10.
Meditate on “persecuted”. What might that look like for you?

Prepare.
1. Who are the blessed of the Kingdom, according to these verses? 

2. Where should they expect to receive their fullest reward?

Meditate.
Having shown us the way into the Kingdom (vv. 3, 4), and cast a vision for the scope and character of the Kingdom (vv. 5, 6), Jesus began to explain the goals and expectations of Kingdom living, starting with mercy and purity and the vision of God (vv. 7, 8). In today’s passage, Jesus continued to put before us what to expect and what to strive for as we follow Him into the Kingdom of heaven.

We are called to be peacemakers (v. 9). They who have come into the Kingdom are at peace with God. They have peace in the world, so that its vicissitudes and uncertainties do not cause them to be anxious (Phil. 4.6, 7). Knowing peace, sharing peace, proclaiming peace, and leading others to the shalom of the Lord: This must factor large in our daily agenda as citizens of the Kingdom whose ruler is the Prince of Peace. 

But notice (v. 10) that not everyone will be happy to know of this peace, or glad to receive it. For some, the offer of peace with God is a threat against their presumed autonomy. And since they can’t strike out at God, they will strike out at His messengers, as Daniel was shown in Daniel 7.13-27. We must expect opposition and even persecution; so we must take as a goal to prepare ourselves for these, so that when they come, they will neither shake our peace nor deter us from offering mercy to those who hate us.

Note here also that Jesus extended the promise of the Kingdom beyond this lifetime into the Kingdom of heaven yet to come, a note He will reiterate in verse 12. He has outlined the whole course of our journey in and to His eternal Kingdom. We are not merely creatures of the here and now; we live toward a glorious then and there, in which our adoption as sons and daughters of God will be finalized, and full possession of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ will be ours to enjoy.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Jesus’ sermon was full of bad and good news:
You may be poor in spirit, but you will receive the kingdom of heaven.
You may mourn, but I will comfort you.
When you are meek, you will inherit the earth.
When you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will be filled with the Word.
When you are merciful to those who don’t deserve it, you will receive mercy from God.
If you struggle and attain pureness in heart, you will see God.

And now, 
if you are a peacemaker with those who choose to make war against you,
you will be called a son of God. 
And, when you are persecuted for being poor in spirit, mournful for your sins, meek, righteous, merciful,
pure, and a peacemaker—doing this all for righteousness’ sake—you will be a future resident of the kingdom
of heaven.

In truth, it’s all worth it. 
Whatever we must do, think, or be, in order to be an active participant in the Kingdom here and now,  and a rejoicing resident of the Kingdom of heaven there and then, we are more than willing to do it.

That is the essence of the Christian life in a nutshell.

“And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. 
‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and 
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, 
with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, 
those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 
For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Pet. 3.13-17).

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, 
or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Pet. 4.15).

Job, who suffered much, but never lost hope of a better day, encourages us with these words:
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth;
and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh
I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19.25-27).

As we are attempting, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to live true to Jesus’ words, we will face trials of all kinds—temptations, persecutions, and physical and mental sufferings. Jesus warned that we would. 
But He is here, walking the whole path with us. 
“I AM with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28.20).
“These things I have spoken to you, 
that in Me you may have peace. 
In the world you will have tribulations; 
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16.33).

Blessed.

Reflect.
1. How do you experience the Presence of God with you in your trials?

2. What does it mean to be an “active participant in the Kingdom” here and now?

3. How should we prepare for the inevitable persecutions that we must face as believers?

The peacemakers are those who…guard the affection of fraternal love and the peace of the church under the unity of the universal faith. And the Lord in the Gospel particularly urges his disciples to guard this peace, saying, “I give you my peace; I leave you my peace.” Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 17.7.1-2

Pray Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12.
We are called to be living sacrifices for the Lord (Rom. 12.1, 2). Offer yourself to Him today, as a pleasing sacrifice. Focus on Him in glory, and ask Him to give you every good thing you will need to do all His will today. Ask to know His peace and to extend it to others.

Sing Psalm 84.1-4, 8-12.
(Holy Manna: Brethren, We Have Met to Worship)
LORD of hosts, how sweet Your dwelling; how my soul longs for Your courts! 
Let my soul with joy keep telling of Your grace forevermore. 
Like a bird upon the altar let my life to You belong. 
Blessed are they who never falter as they praise Your grace with song!

LORD of hosts, my prayer receiving, hear me, help me by Your grace! 
In Your courts I stand believing; turn to me Your glorious face! 
LORD, our sun, our shield, our glory, no good thing will You deny 
to those who proclaim Your story, and who on Your grace rely.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast begins a series of readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter has begun a new series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church and why we need it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.