As I've been preparing to dive into our new series on the Sermon on the Mount, I've been struck by how radically different God's kingdom values are from what our culture promotes. Jesus' teachings turn our normal way of thinking upside down. Today, I want to explore how embracing these countercultural values can transform our lives and align us with God's kingdom.
The Power of God's Word to Change Our Thinking
I believe the power of God's Word has the ability to transform the way we think. That's my hope for this series on the Sermon on the Mount - that it will break through some obstacles in our thinking and shine light on truths that could change everything.
We're starting in Luke 6:17-26, which gives us a condensed version of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus had come down from a mountain with His disciples and was speaking to a large crowd who had gathered to hear Him and be healed.
What's remarkable is that as Jesus begins to teach, He pronounces blessings on people we wouldn't normally consider "blessed": the poor, the hungry, those who weep, and those who are hated and excluded.
This is a complete reversal of what the world tells us leads to blessing. Jesus is introducing us to the upside-down values of God's kingdom.
Understanding the Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount isn't just the greatest message ever preached, it's a concept that helps us understand the vast gap between God's holiness and our human frailty. It shows us God's perfection, our inability to measure up, and our desperate need for Jesus.
When Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, he wasn't lessening God's law, He was fulfilling it. He took the already high standard of the law and raised it even higher. For example:
- You've heard it said, "Don't commit adultery." But I say don't even think about it.
- You've heard it said, "Don't murder." But I say don't even hate.
Jesus was making it clear that it's not just about our outward actions, but the condition of our hearts. He was showing us that it's impossible to earn God's favor through our own efforts. We can only relate to God through complete dependence on Jesus Christ.
The Pattern of God's Kingdom: A Reversal of Values
As we look at Jesus' teachings in Luke 6, we see a clear pattern emerging - the values of God's kingdom are the opposite of what the world promotes:
- Blessed are the poor - The world says pursue wealth and status. Jesus says true riches are found in spiritual poverty and dependence on God.
- Blessed are the hungry - Our culture pushes instant gratification. Jesus says there's blessing in going through seasons of lack and learning contentment.
- Blessed are those who weep - We're told to pursue happiness at all costs. Jesus says there's value in seasons of mourning and sadness.
- Blessed are the hated and excluded - The world tells us to seek approval and popularity. Jesus says rejection for His sake leads to great reward.
This complete reversal of values is the pattern of God's kingdom. When Christ becomes our everything, we experience a heart change from the inside out. We begin to see difficulties and trials through a different lens.
The Power of God's Kingdom: Strength in Weakness
Not only does God's kingdom operate on different values, but it's powered by a different source. Paul describes it beautifully in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
In God's kingdom, we find strength when we're at our weakest. We don't have to always pray for God to deliver us from hard times. Sometimes we need to pray, "God, be with me in this. Walk with me through this."
When we learn to rely on God's strength instead of our own, we tap into a supernatural power source. We can be content in weaknesses, insults, hardships, and difficulties because we know that's when Christ's power rests on us.
The Product of God's Kingdom: True Blessedness
The result or product of living by God's kingdom values is what Jesus calls "blessedness." This goes beyond mere happiness - it's a deep sense of God's favor and approval regardless of our circumstances.
Let's break down the areas where Jesus pronounces blessing:
- Power - "Blessed are the poor"
This isn't just about finances, but about our approach to power and influence. In God's kingdom, we learn to relinquish control and trust in His power rather than our own. - Comfort - "Blessed are the hungry"
Our natural tendency is to seek comfort and avoid discomfort at all costs. But Jesus teaches us that there's value in learning to be uncomfortable. Some of the most blessed people are going through the most difficult times. - Success - "Blessed are those who weep"
The world measures success by achievements, accolades, and possessions. Jesus flips this on its head. He warns against finding our identity in worldly success and encourages us to see value in seasons of weeping and struggle. - Recognition - "Blessed are the hated and excluded"
We all crave recognition and affirmation. But Jesus teaches us that there's blessing in being overlooked, misunderstood, and even rejected for His sake. Our value comes from God's approval, not people's opinions.
Living Out Kingdom Values
Here's the key - we can't just decide to start living out these kingdom values through sheer willpower. These qualities flow naturally from a life surrendered to Christ.
We're not saved because we do good things. We do good things because we are saved. It has to start with knowing Jesus personally. These kingdom values are the outflow of a transformed heart.
If we try to earn God's favor through our own efforts, we'll always be confused. We'll think good things happen because we've been "good enough" and bad things happen because we've failed somehow. But it was never about us to begin with.
When we make it all about Jesus, we can face whatever comes our way - good or bad - knowing it comes from Him and we can handle it through Him.
An Invitation to Experience God's Kingdom
If you've never fully surrendered your life to Jesus, I want to invite you to do that today. You can't give Him part of your heart - it's all or nothing. Maybe you've tried to live the Christian life through your own efforts and found that you can't do it. You're right - you can't. But Jesus can do in you what you could never do on your own.
When you truly experience the transformational power of the Holy Spirit, your desires begin to change. You find yourself wanting what God wants. You're willing to follow Him anywhere, no matter the cost.
That's the life Jesus is inviting you into today. It's a life of true blessedness, not based on your circumstances, but on your relationship with Him. It's a life aligned with the values of God's kingdom, empowered by His strength, and producing the fruit of His blessing.
Will you say yes to that invitation today?
Embracing the Upside-Down Kingdom
As we embark on this journey through the Sermon on the Mount, I encourage you to open your heart to these upside-down kingdom values. Ask the Holy Spirit to do a work in you, pulling out the worldly values that have taken root and replacing them with God's perspective.
It won't be easy. Our natural inclinations resist this radical reorientation. But as we surrender to Jesus and allow Him to transform us from the inside out, we'll begin to experience the true blessedness He promises.
We'll find strength in our weakness, contentment in our lack, joy in our sorrow, and approval from God even when the world rejects us. That's the power of living in God's kingdom - a kingdom that's here now, even if it's not yet fully realized.
So let's dive into the Sermon on the Mount together, ready to have our minds renewed and our hearts transformed. Let's embrace the pattern, tap into the power, and experience the product of God's upside-down kingdom. Doing so will challenge us, stretch us, and ultimately lead us into the fullness of life that Jesus came to give.
