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Weekly Devotional

RADICAL DISCIPLES

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

1* Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him

2* and he began to teach them, saying:

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

4* Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5* Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6* Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7* Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8* Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.

9* Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10* Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11* “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12* Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What makes us “radical?” Is it our behavior? Is it attending church faithfully, being involved in church activities? Is it the fact that we don’t lie, steal, or murder? These things are true of radical Christians, but that’s not what makes us radical!

Is it our beliefs? Is it saying we believe in Jesus? Or that we trust God’s word as truth? These things are true of radical Christians, but that’s not what makes us radical!

The word “radical” brings to mind wild-eyed fanatics who rant against the establishment. But the characteristics Jesus describes in this passage—such as being meek, merciful, or pure—would hardly rock the boat in today’s world! In fact, most people today would shove such a person aside in their scramble to succeed.

Even on a good day, these characteristics elude us. In Jeremiah 17:9, we are told that the human heart is “deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” The human heart is incapable of these things. What comes out of our hearts is “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (Mark 7:21-22)” So how can we live a radical life?

Something radical has to happen to us…something that radically changes us from the inside out!

We need a heart transplant. A new heart just like Jesus’ heart.

At the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he gives us his heart, gives us his Holy Spirit, and an “Owner’s Manual,” the Bible, which provides us with the instructions we need for living out of our new hearts.

By depending on the Spirit and obeying God’s Word, we are empowered to live like Jesus did and we will display the same characteristics that Jesus did, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)”

In this world, that’s RADICAL!