The Beatitudes, and Lower Lights…?

When Jesus talked to the people who had followed him, anxious to hear anything he might say…He delivered the sermon on the Mount and in it gave them gave them what we call, the Beatitudes.

I looked up the definition for the word ‘beatitude’ and it means, “Supreme blessedness,” or as the Merriam Webster dictionary described it, “a state of utmost bliss”! 

Wouldn’t you love to live in a state of utmost bliss and supreme blessedness? I know I would. So, what do we have to do to achieve that?

Reading those eight, nine with the blessing to those who suffer ridicule and persecution “for My sake,” blessings made me want to try harder to fit into those categories so that I could receive those blessings. 

Are you familiar with them? I will list them here, without comment, to remind you. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the ^[a]earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I am going to leave that with you to think about… I have another point I want to make. It comes in verse 14, kind of my own homemade wisdom…

It says, 

^{Matthew 5: 14-16} 

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

So, you want to let your light shine, right? But is it the spotlight you are desiring to be, shining brightly, or would you be willing to be one of the lower lights?

Can you be the person who works quietly, helping people, listening to their problems, and praying for them without telling anyone, broadcasting their problems to all you know? 

After listening to an old recording, I have of Tennessee Ernie Ford singing, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning” I was curious as to exactly what that meant, and when I saw the explanation I knew I had to share it with you… no further comment, just the scripture which inspired me tonight.

*What is the purpose of the lower lights?

The lower lights were the way that ships identified the centerline of the safe entry to a harbor. Because the lower lights were not burning that night, the ship missed the entrance to the harbor and crashed into rocks. Many lives were lost. Oct. 29, 2010

I am willing to be in the group of lower lights to help show you the path to safely enter into safety…are you?

*copied and pasted here directly from Google.com