If you’ve been in church for a long time, you may have heard that the Beatitudes are almost like the Ten Commandments of the New Testament; that Jesus is saying if you do these things, you’ll grow and be blessed. While this is true, I believe that there is another dimension to the Sermon on the Mount that is often overlooked. You see, Jesus looked out at a crowd filled with people needing help — the ones society had rejected and outcast — and He declared them blessed. He wasn’t saying to do or be certain things, rather, He was saying that the Kingdom of Heaven had come and was available to them right in that moment. Many who were listening had been told that they were out of luck because they were not wealthy or super-religious, so Jesus declares to them that God’s Kingdom is now among them and they can have hope!

You see, the Beatitudes are Jesus’ proclamation that the best is yet to come! He sets the stage and tells people that the world is about to be shaken up; that the first will be last, and that God has chosen rejects, prostitutes, murderers, and tax collectors to be His chosen ones. He’s picked anybody that will simply answer the call and say, “Yes, Lord.”

Friend, hope and joy are yours in the Kingdom of God today, just as they were when Jesus first announced His coming 2,000 years ago. Regardless of your past mistakes or how inadequate you feel, you can receive His good news in your life; just call out to Jesus and ask Him to be the Lord of your past, present and future!