Matthew 5:44-45 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

This is Jesus being radical again! He knows how we think and that our natural inclination is to love those who love us and grind those we consider enemies into powder – the “eye for an eye” or “get even” syndrome. That is the nature of Adam our natural father.

Jesus is saying to those of us who have been redeemed by his blood that we can no longer mirror Adam’s nature; we have a new name and a new identity. God is now our Father and so we have to behave like he does. His nature is good – he allows the sun to rise and shine on all and makes the rain fall for everyone’s benefit. Do we all deserve this kindness? No. But he is merciful. Likewise, as his children, we must open our hearts, kill off the ego, and allow ourselves to be poured out even to those who do us wrong, or who do not or cannot love us back. I confess that a recent experience made me realize how hard this is to do in a consistent way. But every day brings a new opportunity to practice, practice, practice.

Jesus knew we would have problems with our attitudes to various life situations – how to live out what we say we believe as his followers – so he took the time to teach the Beatitudes to his disciples. They are recorded in Matthew 5:3-11. I challenge you to launch your own study of these teachings. It will amaze you, as it did me, how much soul searching and attitude adjustment they will demand. Change will only begin to manifest as we crucify the old nature and allow God’s implant of his nature in us to thrive. Jesus said the end result of embracing the Beatitudes would be “blessedness” which has little to do with blessings (stuff) but rather allowing yourself to be clay in the Master’s hand. This means that even when treated unfairly, abused or misunderstood, it will be possible to absorb the injury without a desire to retaliate or resort to self- pity. Your transformation into someone the Lord can entrust with the care of his other lambs or sheep will begin. At some point you will begin to understand what is meant by: the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed in you. (See Romans 8:18)  “Blessedness” takes hold as doing God’s will becomes paramount and you understand that your reward in heaven awaits you.