Living the Good Life: Kingdom Values Redefined

As I reflect on this past Sunday’s sermon, I am reminded of the profound truth that the good life Jesus offers is often upside down from what the world tells us. In a world obsessed with comfort, wealth, and personal happiness, Jesus invites us into a different kind of blessedness—one rooted in dependence on God, humility, and righteousness.

The starting point of this journey is recognizing our utter poverty in spirit. It’s not about financial status but about acknowledging that we bring nothing to the table when it comes to salvation. When we admit our dependence on God, that’s when His kingdom truly begins to open up to us. This humility is the foundation for everything else Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes.

Jesus then calls us to mourn—yes, mourn—for the brokenness of the world and our own sin. It’s honest mourning, not superficial happiness. When we grieve rightly, we open ourselves to His comfort and healing. This mourning is a sign of our love for what God loves and our desire for things to be made right. It’s a necessary step in living the good life that Jesus describes.

Next, Jesus highlights the importance of meekness—strength under control. In a culture that rewards power and dominance, Jesus blesses the gentle, the humble, those who trust in God rather than their own strength. The meek will inherit the earth, not because they are weak, but because they trust in God's sovereignty and act with humility.

The hunger and thirst for righteousness is another key aspect. It’s a deep longing for justice, holiness, and the restoration of all things. When we crave righteousness, we are driven to seek God's will in our lives and in the world around us. Jesus promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied—an assurance that God will meet our deepest needs.

But the Beatitudes don’t stop inwardly. They move outward to how we relate to others. Mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and perseverance in persecution are all part of living the good life in Jesus’ kingdom. Mercy is compassion in action; purity of heart is sincerity before God; peacemakers actively restore relationships; and enduring persecution for righteousness shows us that following Jesus may come at a cost, but it’s worth it because our reward is in heaven.

What strikes me most is how these values seem upside down to the world but are actually the right way around. The world’s way is often about self-promotion, power, and material success. Jesus flips that script, showing us that true blessedness comes through dependence, humility, and love—even when it costs us everything.

So, I want to encourage you today: reflect on which of these Beatitudes speaks most to where you are. Is it the humility of being poor in spirit? The mourning over brokenness? The hunger for righteousness? Or perhaps the call to be merciful and peacemaking? And be honest—what makes you uncomfortable? That discomfort might be the very place where God wants to do His deepest work in your heart.

Remember, living this way isn’t easy, and it often feels upside down from what the world values. But Jesus promises that in His kingdom, the last are first, and the meek will inherit the earth. It’s a life of true blessing, rooted in the grace and power of God.

Let’s keep pressing into these kingdom values, trusting that as we do, we’re living the good life Jesus has prepared for us—a life that is truly blessed, fulfilled, and full of His joy.

May we walk in humility, mercy, and righteousness, knowing that this is the way of life that leads to real blessing. And as we go, let’s remember that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, even now, shaping us into the people God calls us to be.

Blessings to you all as you seek to live out these Beatitudes in your daily walk with Jesus.