All about that grace

 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5: 3-10

Around this time last year, I jokingly challenged a friend at church: If he could learn the whole of the Sermon on the Mount by the following week, I would treat them to a date night including babysitting.

Everyone laughed and then forgot about it… Except me.

I love a challenge. I’ve done a sponsored silence, given up chocolate (and sugar!) for Lent, couch to 5k… There’s something about taking on something seemingly impossible that I like.

And although the words in the Sermon on the Mount are so familiar (among other gems there are: the Beatitudes; the Lord’s Prayer; the house built on the sand…), as I read, I realised I didn’t actually get what they meant.

So I thought… why not?

As of today, I’ve memorised the first chapter (Matthew 5). And the learning has brought incredible rewards. I’ve had time to dwell on the words as never before. I have realised that the familiar words contain profound challenges to the way I live.

For example, “Blessed are the Peacemakers” is not just a nice invitation to stay out of trouble. It is a battlecry: to get stuck in to conflict and work towards restoration and resolution. To actively seek reconciliation in marriages that are struggling, to deliberately choose to give people the benefit of the doubt, to let go of the petty slights that I hold on to and forgive.

Can I live up to this? Probably not. But seeing the world from Jesus’ perspective is slowly shaping my priorities. I don’t despair as much at the bad things all around me, as I can see the hope that Jesus’ words bring. He sees the injustice that I see, and he has a plan. And I get to be part of it!

I have been so blessed that The Bible Project have also chosen this year to launch a new series: a deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount. Their videos and podcasts are helping me to understand what Jesus really means!

I will update on my progress as I go on. I encourage you to think about memorising a block of scripture. Try the Beatitudes – what a manifesto of an upside-down, right side up Kingdom!

If nothing else, watch the Bible Project videos (link below) – they are mind-blowing.

Enjoy!