God's Kind of Happiness

Nothing's been going right. There is still political unrest in Minneapolis. Gas prices have increased because of political upheaval in Iran. Casper and parts of Wyoming are very low in snowfall which means we could be in danger of fires this summer. Nothing's been going right. Yet you're told, "You should be happy!" But are you feeling it?

You've had a rough day. Your grocery bill is way too high ... again. You've been called in to fix problems at work ... again. Your classmates have left you out ... again. Your football team isn't in the Super Bowl ... again. Plus, no one is rooting for either the Patriots or the Seahawks. You're only looking forward to the party at the parsonage. You've had a rough day. You're greeted with, "You're so blessed!" But do you believe it?

God reminds us repeatedly in his Word that we should be joyful because we are so blessed. But our sinful nature takes our minds off God's sure Word and focuses only on life's ups and downs. We think only about how our life stinks right now.

That's why it's so important to hear Jesus preach the Beatitudes in his Sermon on the Mount. God will bless his believers even if their lives are difficult in this sin-ruined world. Sometimes we have the mistaken belief that if we're going through rough times, then God is removing his blessing from us. Or if things are going nice and easy, then God must really like us and is blessing us. As Christians, God is blessing us - whether we see and feel those physical blessings or not.

These Beatitudes are not what people should do to become blessed. Rather, these blessings are what God gives us as his sanctified saints. Nine times Jesus says, "Blessed are ..." (Matthew 5:3-11). Christians are blessed. This is not an uncertain wish or dreamy desire. It's a reality. Jesus doesn't demand his followers to be something they aren't. He tells them what they already are by the grace of God. The Lord's declaration that they are blessed encourages them to persevere. None of what Jesus says makes any sense ... unless you're a Christian. It only makes sanctified sense to Christ's followers. In his Beatitudes - Jesus' statements of blessing - Jesus teaches about God's kind of happiness.

When the crowds came to Jesus, he understood that all these people were looking for the same thing in life. They all wanted happiness. We're just like them, aren't we? Isn't that what we want for ourselves? Isn't that what we ultimately want for our children? Happiness?

The problem is that we really don't understand what makes up God's kind of happiness. That's why true happiness often eludes us. So, Jesus begins teaching, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled" (Matthew 5:3-6).

To help us understand what Jesus is saying here, perhaps you can think about what it's like to raise children. They are poor, with lots of faults. They don't have a lot of life experience, so when they mourn the loss of a grandparent or a pet, they really mourn. They are often gentle. Even more so, they are always hungry!

We are like children. Children are needy - weak, poor, unable to take care of themselves. That's why they cling so strongly to adults. They know they need help, and they're not ashamed to admit it. As God's children, we recognize our spiritual poverty - we are in total need of God's help. We are poor in spirit when we confess that not only are we born in a sinful condition, but we have our "pet sins" - those sins that we commit repeatedly. As Christians, we are never truly happy when we commit these sins. Our sinful nature may enjoy these sins of the flesh and mind, but we always end up feeling guilty afterwards. This guilt drags us down to despair and depression.

Jesus teaches you are blessed and happy when you get rid of these sins. Feel sorrow over your sins. Repent and receive Christ's forgiveness. Then you will receive the kingdom of heaven. You will receive the gift of faith, forgiveness, and eternal life in Christ.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." We're going to mourn when a loved one dies. All we have left are memories that cut like shards of glass. People might say, "Time heals all wounds." Time might help a bit. But not enough ... never enough. The ache is still there. Yet, as God's sanctified saints, we mourn knowing that our Christian loved ones are now God's glorified saints in heaven. Even as we mourn, we are blessed because we do not mourn like those who have no hope, for God us given us hope of the resurrection through Jesus Christ.

"Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth." A Christian man once asked God, "Why has my brother been blessed with wealth and I with nothing? All my life I've never missed a single day without saying morning and evening prayers. My church attendance has been perfect. I've always loved my neighbor and given my money. Yet now, as I am near the end of my life, I can hardly afford to pay my rent. My brother, though, drinks and gambles and plays all the time. He has more money than he can count. I don't ask you to punish him, but tell me, why has he been given so much and I have been given nothing?" "Because," God replied, "you're such a self-righteous pain in the neck."

The gentle are believers who are humble, meek, patient, and lowly. We endure mistreatment without retaliation. We aren't noisy, demanding, "self-righteous pains in the neck." Then we'll inherit the earth. We're blessed for God works all things work together for good. We'll inherit the new heavens and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13). It may seem like we have nothing now, but we'll have everything for eternity. God will bless us with the things we need in life, not because we deserve them, but because God wishes to give them to us.

Like hungry and thirsty children, we are hungering and thirsting for the righteousness we receive in Christ's Bread of Life and Water of Life. Make the Word of God a part of your daily life. Assemble regularly with your fellow Christians hearing God's Word in worship and Bible study. Receive the Lord's Supper often. Live in daily appreciation of the blessings of your Baptism. Then you are filled with all the blessings of salvation God has granted you through Jesus Christ.

God's kind of happiness also comes from imitating Jesus. "Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:7-9). The next three beatitudes speak of living as Christians, so others identify us as Christ's followers.

Christian talk without Christian action to back it up just makes the talk sound like religious gas. If people think you're a hypocrite, it doesn't matter how true your words might be. St. James tells us bluntly, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead" (James 2:17).

People are starved for real Christianity. They aren't necessarily impressed by traditions, rituals, labels, or beautiful buildings. They do notice acts of compassion, generosity, and kindness. Young people especially are desiring real, authentic, and genuine.

Real, authentic and genuine describe the life of Christ. We are merciful to others because Jesus was merciful to humanity. Jesus was merciful by dying and saving us, even though we didn't deserve it. He forgives us, even though he knows we will keep on asking for more forgiveness.

Imitating Jesus means having a pure heart. But having a pure heart doesn't come naturally to us. Just like cholesterol can clog the arteries around the heart, so our daily sins ruin us spiritually. Every day we need to pray, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10) When we have this pure heart, we will be able to stand before God on the Day of Judgment knowing we will dwell in his presence for all eternity.

The peace of Jesus flows into us so that this peace flows out from us to others. Then we are called peacemakers. Jesus doesn't call us to be "peacekeepers" - those who passively sit back and refrain from starting trouble. We are called to be "peacemakers" - those who actively strive to make peace where there are hostilities and quarrels. Jesus actively put himself into the war to reconcile us as enemies to our heavenly Father so we could be called God's sons and daughters. Now we are to actively put ourselves into uncomfortable situations to establish peace through the Prince of Peace.

God's kind of happiness also comes from suffering for Jesus' sake. Jesus must have raised a few eyebrows when he said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. In fact, that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

Face it, people are going to hate you because you're a Christian. They won't understand you because you're a Lutheran. They'll call you "strict" and "close-minded" because you're WELS. Even though you may work to make peace with others, some will hate you enough to make your life miserable. What should you do? Should you lose all hope? Should you give up and throw in the towel? No! Jesus said, "Rejoice and be glad."

This is again where Jesus' message turns our world upside down. Jesus wants you to rejoice when someone insults you for standing up for what is right. He wants you to be glad when they do things that try to ruin your life. He wants you to throw a party when people tell lies about you and drag your name through the mud. Well, maybe not a party, but you are to rejoice and be glad.

Jesus says we are in good company when we're persecuted for our faith. We are suffering like Isaiah and Jeremiah, Moses and Daniel. We're enduring pain like Paul, Peter, and Stephen. We're abused and shamed just as Christ was abused and shamed. We're enduring it all for him. We endure this suffering because he endured it first for us. When we suffer for Jesus' sake, we aren't doing anything extraordinary. Jesus endured mockery and shame, betrayal and beatings. He endured the cross and separation from his heavenly Father. He endured all of it for us.

When we suffer for Jesus' sake, we're really saying, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for what you went through for me. Please let me show you my gratitude by standing up for you." We rejoice in our persecution because we are being counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41). It may sound strange, but there really is a joyous and satisfying feeling that comes from suffering in the name of Jesus. That is God's kind of happiness.

The message of our world is all about happiness in this world. Jesus promises to reward us greatly in heaven. In the Beatitudes, our Savior turns the world upside down. He calls blessed people this world never would. He calls blessed people that the world would use as doormats. The world praises the brash and the strong. Jesus calls blessed what others see as foolishness. To live this kind of blessedness requires a deep trust in the Lord's strength and a long-term view of life. Jesus calls us blessed even in circumstances like mourning and persecution, because he's looking beyond the troubles of this world to the reward that is waiting for the people of God. Like reading the last chapter of a book, Jesus takes the mystery out of a life filled with sorrow by showing us the end. What is that end? We're blessed!

People are searching for happiness. Where can it be found? On a hill along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Upon the bloody Roman cross standing outside the walls of Jerusalem. In the open and empty borrowed tomb. Happiness is found in Word, water, bread, and wine. Happiness is found in God. Amen.