Jesus and the Opposite Game

Do you remember playing "The Opposite Game" when you were a kid? Whatever your friend (or sibling) would say, you would say the opposite, until they got so annoyed that you either got punched, or they walked away? Well, it would appear that Jesus was familiar with the opposite game as well.

I was reading the "Beattitudes" today in Matthew 5. I couldn't help but notice that everyone of the things that Jesus says indicates a "blessed" life, is the exact opposite of what the world today says a "blessed" life is.

1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." The world today says that being "poor" in anything is never a good thing. But Jesus says that being "poor in spirit," in other words, emptying ourselves of ourselves is a great thing!

2. "Blessed are those who mourn." The world does everything in it's power to move past "pain or mourning" as quickly as possible. "Quick give me something so I don't have to feel this pain..." Is it possible that Jesus understood that pain woudl be a mighty teacher in our lives, if we would learn to not move past it too quickly?

3. "Blessed are the meek." The world promotes strength & power & any sign of weakness or even meekness (which are not the same things, by the way) is seen as a bad thing.

4. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst..." The world convinces us every 30 seconds that we shouldn't "want" anything. "Do what you must, but you HAVE to HAVE this new product, or gadget, or toy, or restaurant, etc."

5. "Blessed are the merciful." The world declares with compelling directness that "Ruthlessness wins." Never relent. Never retreat. Never show mercy.

6. "Blessed are the pure in heart." The world wants us to contaminate our hearts with anything and everything we can find. Purity is mocked on every TV show today. Wow.

7. "Blessed are the peacemakers." The world is looking for a fight. "It's a dog eat dog world out there..." type of thing. Jesus promotes the opposite.

8. "Blessed are those who are persecuted." The world wants to so water down truth, in the name of everyone feeling comfortable, & thus doing away with any sort of ill-will related to a belief that could be seen as "unpopular." Jesus says there are going to be times when believing in me isn't going to be easy or popular."

9. "Blessed are you when people insult you." Nobody likes to be insulted or put down. But Jesus says that the "Blessed life," looks different than that.

Interesting stuff, isnt' it? Does the world around us consider you & I blessed? Based on what? Who would consider our lives more blessed, Jesus or the world around us?

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt