'I' Exam: Whom Do You See?

The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6:20-38

Are the Beatitudes just religious platitudes to which we give mere lip service?

In light of the nasty world in which we live, and considering those still controlled by the evil one, what do we see? Do we see anything other than our own hopelessness, shame, guilt? Do we then try to drum up something – anything - kind or loving towards those who sin against us, rub us the wrong way, piss us off, etc?

Maybe the Holy Spirit is the Divine Optician performing the eye exam we desperately need - meaning, it is his ability that opens the eyes of our heart to see. See what? See whom?

Like an x-ray, we slowly begin to see that all we’re looking and longing for is found in Christ Jesus, and that He is in us, joined to us. We are one in Him.

Is it possible that His life in us is the only life available to us? And maybe it has nothing to do with our trying to be ‘Christ-like!’ As he was in the world, so are we. Maybe we have a secret identity, so secret that most Christians have NO idea who they are! I mean, come on! Being called a ‘saint’: isn’t that all about some righteous Catholic who lived ages ago?

I wonder why we struggle so much over the plain and simple language used in the bible, for example: “great is the mystery of godliness”, “It is no longer I that lives, but Christ, nevertheless I do live, but I live by the faith of the Son of God”, “Christ in you the hope of glory”.

Is Jesus Christ still external to us or is He our very life? To paraphrase the words of an old hymn: “Reach out and touch the Lord as he passes by…Hopefully you won’t find Him too busy to hear your heart’s cry….”

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”. When? When we die and go to be with Jesus?

Revelation 3:“17 Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,

18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

If we’re not seeing Him, no wonder we try so hard to cover up our blindness, wretchedness, misery and nakedness!“

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.

Thank you Father that you have hidden this from the ‘wise guys’ and revealed it unto the children!

Rich