Matthew 5:1New International Version (NIV)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

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

The warrior is the loyal soldier. He stands up for what is right. The warrior is the guy that gets things done his way. He has no time for childish games, and he does not let his personal life get in the way of his mission. A warrior is often a hero in the making. He is on the verge of doing something great.

This sounds perfect for being a warrior in the eyes of the world. As young boys, we watched movies like Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, and Gladiator to name a few, but are they the real warriors in which the Bible describes warriors?

If you continue to read in Matthew 5, you will see a different description of the warriors Jesus is calling for. Those who are poor, mourn, humble, hunger, merciful, pure, and peaceful. That was Jesus’ criteria for the spiritual warriors he is calling.

This steps you back doesn’t it. It does me. Yet, Jesus calls out to the multitudes and shows them if you want to be the children of God this is what a true warrior looks like. As a matter of fact, they will mock you and persecute you. They will lie and say evil things of you just because you call me Lord.

The question that I have today is when was the last time someone persecuted you or mocked you for standing up for Jesus? It is that we have become so much like a world warrior that we have lost being the spiritual warriors who look more like Christ?

My prayer for us today is that we take on the warrior spirit of Matthew 5:3-12. I hope we do not just read these words, but we live them. Jesus promises a great reward in Heaven for being a spiritual warrior.

Strength and Courage

 Michael