The Way of Jesus

I've been in some good conversations lately about actively living/walking in the way of Jesus. Seems like we often talk about living the way Jesus lived or acting the way Jesus acted. It gets difficult to cut through the vague to hear someone say something specific.

"I think people need to act more like Jesus." Easy criticism. What does that mean? What would you change about your day if you were going to "act more like Jesus." Whatever you come up with, why don't you go ahead and change that?

These conversations and thoughts led me to dig into the teachings of Jesus more intensely than I have in the past. For reasons I can't quite figure out myself, I started with the Sermon on the Mount. I recommend you read it. Matthew 5:3-7:27. Go ahead. If you just go ahead and read it you will get far more out of it than if you continue reading this blog post.

For those who have read it (especially recently) and you want to continue this post. Here's more...

I find Jesus utterly surprising. Opening this compacted set of powerful teachings is a list - we call it the Beatitudes - of blessings. And who Jesus pronounces a blessing for surprises me. It probably surprised everyone there. He didn't say a blessing over the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, the cool, the popular, or those with many friends. He blesses the poor in spirit, the mournful, the meek, those hungering and thirsting for some righteousness, and for those who care deeply about these same things (merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking, righteous).

As I get to know Jesus better, I love that he asks me to get out of my comfort zone and try to see people the way he sees them. Maybe I can actually walk the way he walked or live the way he lived if I get to know his heart and begin to see the way he sees.

Blessed are the teenagers in that awkward stage...
Blessed are the crying or demanding toddlers at the grocery store...
Blessed are the people who can't seem to keep a job and always try to make excuses for themselves...
Blessed are the couple you just met at church and it turns out they've been there for years and you just didn't see them...
Blessed are the guys from another ethnicity that you are intimidated by...
Blessed are the two people talking or answering their phones during the movie you paid full price for...
Blessed are the drivers who cut you off...
Blessed are the Japanese survivors who lost many friends and family...
Blessed are the children's Sunday school teachers who never get to go to "big church"...
Blessed are the people who walk from their low-income apartment to the beer stop around the corner...
Blessed are those who think the best years of their lives are behind them...
Blessed are those who will not be able to buy turkey or ham for Thanksgiving or Christmas...
Blessed are those who will never get an A on a test...
Blessed are those who marry "that person" against their family's wishes...
Blessed are the ones who battle depression and have a successful day when they manage to get out of bed and leave the house for a little while...
Blessed are those who had to bury their dog or cat this week...
Blessed are those have a really strong opinion about everything and make sure you hear it...
Blessed are those who are caring for an aged parent...
Blessed are those who are carrying hurts and just won't heal...
Blessed are those who can't seem to do anything right...

These are the people that came to my mind when I tried to think of people that I don't bless. Maybe if I bless them, I can see them with Jesus' eyes and then I can love them as he does.

Is there someone in your life that you would find it unexpected for Jesus to bless them? What if you did it?

Who knows where this journey through the Sermon on the Mount will take me. If you want to come along, I welcome the company.

Serious question: who would you bless if you were to intentionally bless someone that doesn't get blessed much (or at all)?