True Happiness

In preparing for a sermon this Sunday night, I am struck by God's word in Matthew 5:1-12.  The title of the message is "Finding True Happiness."  I've studied this passage before and I've become aware before about how counter-intuitive this passage (The whole Sermon on the Mount, for that matter) is to the world and even our sinful propensities.  This time, however, it seems quite the contrary even to what most Christians believe to be true happiness.

Jesus was teaching radical truths to his hearers.  No doubt they would like to be "blessed" or "happy" in their lives, I just wonder if they knew this one most rightfully considered to be Messiah would tell them such things.  True blessedness is a characteristic only God can grant because only God is truly "blessed" (1 Timothy 1:11; 1 Timothy 6:15). 

We as believers in Christ should posses some semblance of these virtues Jesus outlines.  While they may only be shadows if we are immature in our faith, we should be striving against the worldly norm and striving for Christ's character to be our character.  I pray God uses me this Sunday night to first, preach these truths to my own heart but also that the Lord will allow His word to wash over all in attendance in such a way that true change is a result.  I also pray that the Lord might save someone this Sunday night through His faithfully preached word.