“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6.33?
 

Do you want to find the secret of happiness? Don’t look for it!

 

 
The Sermon on the Mount sets out the attitudes – not the actions – which characterise true disciples. The introduction to the sermon, 5:3-12, is usually called ?the beatitudes?, and this is a list of eight basic attitudes which Jesus develops, illustrates and explains throughout the rest of his sermon. (It is sometimes debated as to exactly how many beatitudes there are. Some speak of seven, nine, or ten beatitudes, but ?if we regard verses 10-12 of Matthew 5 as one beatitude – the number appears to be eight.)


Each ?beatitude? begins with the Greek word makarios – which is usually translated as either ?blessed? or ?happy?. Makarios is nothing to do with ?blessings?. Instead, it comes from the Greek word mak which means ?large? or ?lengthy? and carries the idea of someone with a big smile on their face. It is the word used by Mary in Luke 1:48 and is best understood by ?very fortunate? or even ?to be congratulated?.
The beatitudes or ?beautiful attitudes? give a general character description of those disciples who are living ?in the kingdom?. As we read them, we see what we are meant to look like as a result of God?s personal rule in our life.?If we live fully under the personal rule of God, we can expect to be characterised by these eight attitudes.

The post Don't seek Happiness, seek the Kingdom of God! appeared first on Colin Dye.

Colin Dye ministering at Kensington Temple

We know that in Christ we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). But have you ever wondered how to enter into this blessing? It is one thing to realise that you are blessed spiritually-speaking, but what does this mean in practical terms?

Many people forget the basis of the blessing – the pure, unmerited favour of God lavished on you by the unconditional love of the Father. Thinking like this stops you from enjoying your blessing. The legalistic preachers step in at this point with their works-based solutions: work harder, pray more, and don’t ever dare slip up! But these exhortations are all false, if they cause you to take your eyes off Jesus!

Jesus came to deliver you from your faults and failings by giving you his perfections and beauty.

The first and foremost principle of blessing is to keep focussed on the Source. Jesus Christ, your Friend and Saviour, is the lover of your soul. Everything good comes from him. Like a child looking expectantly into the loving eyes of a father, so the Holy Spirit directs your attention away from yourself and encourages you always to fix your eyes upon Jesus.

The only way we can enter into the blessing of God, and to stay there, is to set our heart and full attention on Christ. Colossians Chapter 3 verse 3 tells us that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Jesus came to deliver you from your faults and failings by giving you his perfections and beauty. Why go scavenging in the rubbish bins of your own failures in order to find something of value. God is in the recycling business. He can turn our failures into his success and our weaknesses into his strength – so look to him and not to yourself.

The broken structures of self can never be repaired by the forces that destroyed it in the first place.

When you discover that your sufficiency is in him you never want to look back. You certainly never attempt to improve the old self or patch up the old life, trying to make it acceptable to God. Rather, you look to the One who is the only source of life and blessing.

The great secret of abundant Christian living is no secret at all! It is Christ himself. Religion, on the other hand, is all about self-effort and is guaranteed to fail. The broken structures of self can never be repaired by the forces that destroyed it in the first place.

Blessing is about total rejection of every fleshly effort and total dependence on the supply of God’s grace in Christ. It is time to change your address. Stop living in the past, looking to the things of self. Enter into your true place in the heavenlies. You will soon find the pull of the old pleasures losing their appeal. What could ever compare with our victorious life-giving Lord? Enjoy what is yours and stay blessed!

The post Stay Blessed! appeared first on Colin Dye.