In the autumn of 1985, I was living in Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England and had the opportunity to attend a church conference called Spring Harvest. Churches from all over the country gathered in a Butlin’s holiday camp at Minehead in the south west for praise, teaching and fellowship.
I remember one of the speakers on the main stage was an Anglican priest and evangelist called Eric Delve. I’d seen him on the TV a number of times on that late evening devotional show, looking cool in a leather jacket and talking about God. On this occasion, his texts ranged from Luke 1, when the angel Gabriel visited Mary to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. He was an entertaining story teller using different voices, humor and acting to get his message across. I was struck at how he made the story come alive in a way I’d never heard before.
The Beatitudes began to make sense! Jesus who came to fulfil the Law contained in the Ten Commandments turned them from commands into promises. And in the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us a collection of words that are not aspirational but consequential for the Christian life lived faithfully. When we are faithful to our calling to be His Disciples, the words of the Beatitudes are also promises in a faithful life.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for 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, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
You are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Let your light shine in such a way that all may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:3-14, 16.