Perfect happiness
BEATITUDES…are defined as supreme blessedness or a state of utmost bliss. It is more than just being happy; lots of things give you earthly happiness. They are exalted happiness. The origin in Latin means perfect happiness. You get the point; it’s an awesome, life altering experience. But what can cause such blessedness? Well, it’s not hitting the lottery or even winning the Super Bowl. It goes well beyond that. As great as these are, they are not forever, but temporary. The money gets spent or lost and memories fade.
The most widely known beatitudes are found in the Bible, in the New Testament; specifically as a part of the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. The sermon is Jesus’ longest discourse on living the Christian life. It starts with the eight Beatitudes in Chapter 5. Each is a proverb-like proclamation with no real narrative. Each Beatitude consists of two phrases; the condition and the result. I would say that, outside the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, the Beatitudes are the most widely known and followed commands in all of the Bible. That is, other than the two greatest commandments concerning loving God well and our neighbors as ourselves.
You notice up front that ‘blessedness’ of every nature is provided to a believer who pursues these with his whole heart. So, what are these eight Beatitudes? Briefly, they are—
Poor in Spirit, humility;
Mourn, over our sin;
Meek, strength under control;
Hungering and thirsting, for righteousness to prevail;
Merciful, loving even the unlovely or undeserving;
Pure in heart, seeking holiness;
Peacemaker, between man and man, and man and God;
Enduring persecution, for the gospel.
As I was reflecting on these, it hit me—what would it be like if each father pursued being a ‘Beatitude Dad’? Not perfectly, but simply pursuing this lifestyle. Do you think it would make a powerful difference in our families? Would your children see a role model worthy of imitating? We know the answer—a resounding ‘YES’!
Spiritual Superman
So, the following is my attempt to paint a word picture of this ‘spiritual superman’.
A humble man, casting pride aside and desiring Christlikeness;
aware of his sin, confessing and repenting daily;
mild-mannered but strong in conviction;
meditating on God’s word daily;
loving even when others don’t meet his expectations;
committed to live with integrity;
being an instrument for God to use in conflict; and
standing firm in the trials of life clothed in the full armor of God.
Beatitude Dad
In a nutshell, a ‘Beatitude Dad’…
walks humbly,
is mindful of God’s grace,
speaks gently while packin’ heat,
a lover of God’s word,
compassionate,
full of integrity,
peacemaker, and
while takin’ a lickin’ for his beliefs,
he keeps on tickin’!
Before you shoot holes in my description, I would ask—in your own words, how might you describe a ‘Beatitude Dad’? I am dead serious. Have at it!
We need more fathers who are committed to this lifestyle. Can you possibly imagine the impact you would have on this and several ensuing generations? On your own, you can’t; but through prayer, strong men to hold you accountable, the Holy Spirit to empower you through the word, and by the grace of God, you can. I say we must!
So go and become a BEATITUDE DAD. Your family and the world will stop and take notice. So will the Lord who spoke these into existence on a mountain some 2,000 years ago. They are as relevant today as they were then. And equally needed.
