A Day in the Life a Christian of Character, Matthew 5:3-12

This we I sat between two friends. The one teaches NKU sophomore students about journalism and the other works for the Republican party. His job is sifting through local newspapers for articles of local interest and sustenance. What I found out is that news reporting is tough business. Everyone wants immediate news. So, we consume unsubstantiated garbage. The Professor says he is trying to get character back into his students.

This we I sat between two friends. The one teaches NKU sophomore students about journalism and the other works for the Republican party. His job is sifting through local newspapers for articles of local interest and sustenance. What I found out is that news reporting is tough business. Everyone wants immediate news. So, we consume unsubstantiated garbage. The Professor says he is trying to get character back into his students.

In this world we taste blessings that in heaven we will consume.

A typical Christian’s day:

1. Before You Leave the Room

This first cycle is our first thoughts as we wake – before we leave our room. We are repentant. We need it to become a Christian, we need it to remain a Christian.

There will be a chocolate after services for the 1st 3 who can give me a note showing the 8 character roles with rewards. Freebie: 1. Role: God blesses those who realize they need Him; Reward: They will be given the Kingdom of Heaven.

Christians Need God,

Matthew 5:3 ESV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Every disciple of Jesus has only one choice to make every day … to remain faithful. Obedience to this choice opens us all kinds of blessings. Failure results in sadness.

1. The poor in spirit (5:3)

a. The role (5:3a): God blesses those who realize their need for him.

b. The reward (5:3b): The Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to thee for dress;

Helpless, look to thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

Christians are Repentant

Matthew 5:4 ESV

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

2. Those who mourn (5:4)

a. The role (5:4a): God blesses those who mourn.

b. The reward (5:4b): They will be comforted.

When last did God see your “Christian Tears”? Jesus wept over the sins of others. We ought to shed tears for the sins of others and our own sins.

Christians are Meek

Matthew 5:5 ESV

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

3. The meek (5:5)

a. The role (5:5a): God blesses the gentle and lowly.

b. The reward (5:5b): The whole earth will belong to them.

When we start meek before God it will make us gentle, humble, sensitive, patient in all our dealings with others during the day.

2. The Breakfast You Eat

The second cycle is about getting the energy needed for the day.

We Frantically Feed on the Word

Matthew 5:6 ESV

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

4. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (5:6)

a. The role (5:6a): God blesses those who seek after justice.

b. The reward (5:6b): They will receive it in full.

Wheaties: A breakfast of champions.

What is the most memorable breakfast you have ever had? For me it was in the Kruger National Game Reserve. It was from a small portable Weber at a stop outside the main camp. The ingredients did not cost much. The company was two veteran preachers, their wives, and Douwene and I. It was a cool clear spring morning. The sun was just breaking the horizon. Around was God’s beautiful, uncontaminated creation.

I ate a few rashers of beacon, a fried egg (sunny side up), a breakfast scone, and drank a cup of coffee.

Now, much years later, my breakfast of champions is the Word of God.

3. The Character You Display

The 3rd cycle is living a day of correct Christian character.

We Display Mercy

Matthew 5:7 ESV

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

5. The merciful (5:7)

a. The role (5:7a): God blesses those who are merciful.

b. The reward (5:7b): They will be shown mercy.

We Display Purity,

Matthew 5:8 ESV

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

6. The pure in heart (5:8)

a. The role (5:8a): God blesses those whose hearts are pure.

b. The reward (5:8b): They will see God.

Only the pure in heart will see God, see him now with the eye of faith and see his glory in the hereafter, for only the utterly sincere can bear the dazzling vision in whose light the darkness of deceit must vanish and by whose fire all shams are burned up.

We Display Peace,

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

The sequence of thought from purity of heart to peacemaking is natural, because one of the most frequent causes of conflict is intrigue, while openness and sincerity are essential to all true reconciliation.

Every Christian, according to this beatitude, is meant to be a peacemaker both in the community and in the church.

7. The peacemakers (5:9)

a. The role (5:9a): God blesses those who work for peace.

b. The reward (5:9b): They will be called the children of God.

We Display Endurance,

Matthew 5:10 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

· Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value-systems.

· We should not be surprised if anti-Christian hostility increases, but rather be surprised if it does not.

· Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer. In fact, it is a joy and a token of his grace.’ The cost of discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1937: 6th and complete English edition, SCM, 1959)

8. Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness (5:10–12)

a. The role (5:10a, 11): God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God.

b. The reward (5:10b, 12): The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs

You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. —

Legendary basketball coach John Wooden (1910–2010) believed that character is far more important than reputation. “Your reputation is what you’re perceived to be by others,” Coach Wooden often told his players, “but your character is what you really are. You’re the only one that knows your character. You can fool others, but you can’t fool yourself.”