02-16-24-ENG.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

Matthew 5:1–2 
 
Living a lifestyle of kingdom values ushers in blessings and favor. When Jesus spoke in what is now called the Sermon on the Mount, He did so because He wanted each of us to know the upside of kingdom values. He also wanted to emphasize that choosing to embrace kingdom values isn’t just something you do so you can check off a list. It isn’t just something you do so you can post virtue-signaling statements online. Neither is it about “grinning and bearing it” as you seek to live the Christian life. Rather, Jesus paired up each of the kingdom values with a blessing that is to boomerang right back to you. Instead of living a life of chaos, you’ll discover calm. Instead of wandering aimlessly in pain, you will find comfort. Instead of going through life unsatisfied, you will find what you need when you need it most.

In these eight different statements on kingdom values that Jesus mentioned in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also provided the purpose behind living them out. I imagine Jesus gave us the purpose because He knows we are human. He knows we need a tangible motivation to spur us on. So He gives us an incentive. He reminds us that when we choose to live and be shaped according to kingdom values, we will be accessing the blessings of God’s kingdom for ourselves. The kingdom values Jesus spoke on in His Sermon on the Mount outline both the responsibility and benefits of living in the kingdom. In fact, in the first twelve verses of His famous sermon, Jesus used the word blessing, or a form of it, nine times. On nine separate occasions, we discover what we need to do (what kingdom values we need to live by) in order to receive kingdom blessings. 

These nine references to blessings cover eight specific values that God desires for us to live by. You may wonder what this sermon preached so long ago has to do with any of us right now. But the principles in His sermon still apply today. They are principles that, if followed, will shape us into who we need to be as kingdom followers of Christ. When Jesus spoke to His disciples on the mountain that day, He chose His words in such a way so as to elevate them personally to a higher level of kingdom discipleship. But what was relevant to them was also relevant to the additional people gathered nearby, and it remains relevant to all of us right now. A life of kingdom living that produces kingdom blessing allows you to experience the benefits of the kingdom internally. Without a doubt, that is a relevant pursuit for all of us right now. We could all use a bit more blessing in our lives. That’s why Jesus urged us to live as His kingdom disciples, modeling a life of kingdom values in all we say and do. 

Reaction:
Describe the difference between a blessing from God and a human reward. In what ways can focusing on human rewards and accolades actually remove the experience of blessings in your life? What do you think is the main reason it is easier to focus on human rewards and accolades rather than to pursue God’s blessings? 

Prayer:
Jesus, help mold my mind to distinguish between human rewards and divine blessings so that I will know which I am to pursue. Help me apply the principles You taught in the Sermon on the Mount to such a degree in my life that they become natural to me. I want to walk in the goodness and favor of God’s blessings, so enable me to align my heart, mind, and actions under You as the Lord of my life. In Your name I pray, amen.