Just yesterday, one of our elders at First Baptist Church forwarded me this message. It's a little blunt, but take it for what it's worth:
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
You've heard the Beatitudes? Well, below are some of Satan's Bad-Attitudes:
Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend
an hour once a week with their fellow Christians.
They are my best workers.
Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked.
I can use them.
Blessed are those easily annoyed. With a bit of luck, they may stop going to church.
They are my missionaries.
Blessed are the troublemakers.
They shall be called my children.
Blessed are the complainers.
I'm all ears to them.
Blessed are they who are bored with the preacher's mannerisms and mistakes,
for they get nothing out of the sermon.
Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church,
for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
Blessed are they who gossip,
for they shall cause strife and divisions, which please me.
Blessed are they who are easily offended,
for they will soon get angry and quit.
Blessed are they who do not give their offering to carry on Gods work,
for they are my helpers.
Blessed is he who professes to love God, but hates his brother and sister,
for he shall be with me forever.
Blessed are you when you read this and think it applies to other people and not yourself.
I've got you.
Blessings!
Lucifer
Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend
an hour once a week with their fellow Christians.
They are my best workers.
Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked.
I can use them.
Blessed are those easily annoyed. With a bit of luck, they may stop going to church.
They are my missionaries.
Blessed are the troublemakers.
They shall be called my children.
Blessed are the complainers.
I'm all ears to them.
Blessed are they who are bored with the preacher's mannerisms and mistakes,
for they get nothing out of the sermon.
Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church,
for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
Blessed are they who gossip,
for they shall cause strife and divisions, which please me.
Blessed are they who are easily offended,
for they will soon get angry and quit.
Blessed are they who do not give their offering to carry on Gods work,
for they are my helpers.
Blessed is he who professes to love God, but hates his brother and sister,
for he shall be with me forever.
Blessed are you when you read this and think it applies to other people and not yourself.
I've got you.
Blessings!
Lucifer
I remember years ago when an elderly saint told me, "Sometimes when I'm not sure what God would have me to do, I think of what the devil would have me to do - and then I run in the opposite direction!" Thankfully, we do not have to guess as to what God would have us to do when it comes to our attitudes and actions toward others. Let us hear the real Beatitudes, that come from the very lips of our Lord:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, 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, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
In case you didn't know, the word beatitude comes from the Latin word beatus, which means "happy." The pathway to true joy and blessedness is Christ. He Himself is the way (John 14:6), and as we walk in His Spirit in accordance with His Word, we will take on His character.
God save us from the Bad-Attitudes and produce in us these Beatitudes, so that - as Jesus would go on to say - others will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.