I used to write more blogs like this, about spiritual things, when I first started. Lightly. But I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Bible these days studying our Savior’s life and ministry. I know there are a number of people who aren’t of my faith who read my blog so for you, I’m warning you now that there is no quick wit or good humor to find here today (sort of). Just some thoughts about scripture that I wanted to get on paper that I hope you’ll be interested in reading anyway.
These are just a few versus out of Matthew 5. I usually find no particular excitement in reading the Bible because… to be utterly honest… it bores me sometimes. But I think that’s because whenever I’ve tried to get through it, I start with Genesis. I’m pretty sure I’ve got Genesis memorized for all the times I’ve tried to read the Old Testament and never got past that first book before I awoke to uncrinkle the pages that had become imprinted on my face and wipe away the drool. Then I pick in up again, months later, and start at the beginning….again. So this time, I broke all the rules and started in the middle.
I like reading scripture and then trying to put in in everyday language. It makes it come to life and helps me make sense of all the old language. You may read these and think “you’re totally missing the point of that scripture!” But there can be many interpretations to one verse. I am merely sharing one of many that I liked. These verses aren’t in order either. I’ve never been one for order… just as my laundry room.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.”
At first when I read this I thought “poor in spirit? Like…sad? …So I should go around moping, and then I get the kingdom? Well that doesn’t sound right!” And of course it isn’t. Poor in spirit refers to humility. And since my pride happens to be my number one nemesis, that makes the game a little more interesting.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
I thought I knew what meek meant until I read the reference for this specific verse. It describes it as gentle, forgiving and benevolent… but not only that. It also says that they are characterized as the humble who have suffered.
I think there are people in this life (myself included) who become jaded by life. But this verse plainly tells us that becoming hard and callused from the world is a choice. There ARE people who choose to be meek- and to me, from this definition, they deserve to inherit something huge like a planet! Because they aren’t described as someone who has had a fairly easy life. No, it’s talking about people who have suffered, yet still CHOOSE to be gentle, forgiving and benevolent. That says volumes about them.
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”
In the footnotes it says peacemaker is to be identified with contentment. Again I thought… what they heck? What does contentment have to do with peacemakers? Then I thought of it on a larger scale like nations at war. Why do we ever go to war? If you think about it, most of the time, it’s because someone somewhere isn’t content with what they have. They want more. More power, more money, more respect etc. And suddenly, they are willing to disrupt the peace to get it.
On a smaller scale, this scripture is for the individuals who are content with what they have, for they help keep the peace and are therefore truly worthy to be related to God through such an intimate title.
“Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.”
My first reaction to this verse was “…that’s it?” Everybody else in these versus get all these massive amazing gifts like inheriting kingdoms and worlds and titles …and all these guys get is a hug? ….this is why I have to really STUDY scripture. Otherwise, I wouldn’t stop to realize that it’s so much more than that.
I think about the times in my life when I’ve really suffered. Times in my life when I’ve watched people I love suffer. Suffer through things that I can’t help them with. Do you know what that’s like? Trying to help someone when you know there is nothing you can do? It’s in times like those that I am most thankful for this scripture because it gives me hope that even through the most sorrowful events, they will be comforted. We all can be comforted. And that’s no small gift.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
This one strikes home for me. There are things I’ve done in my life that I’m not proud of. Things that deep down I feel like I haven’t been a whole person since because it’s created so much pain for others. I know I wouldn’t feel that way if I truly let the atonement do it’s job and that’s something I’m working on. But that’s why I love this verse so much, because in the meantime, I feel like there is something I can do to “regain points in heaven” and that’s be merciful to everyone else who crosses me. Maybe what this verse SHOULD mean to me (since I can’t think of anyone I hold malice for right now) is that I should be more merciful to myself as well. Humm…that’s food for thought.
More food for thought later! It’s time to get on with my day and stop trying to make sense of the world.
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7 comments:
I love and appreciate your personal insights to these famous lines of scripture. They are so simple, yet packed with deeper meaning. Thank you for reminding me about the gems of wisdom that can be discovered if I will take the time to ponder what I am reading!
I too share the same feelings about the Bible. But thank you so much for reminding me of these simple truths. Today someone said it isn't the quantity it is the quality. I liked that quote because when we truely ponder that is when we learn, and make changes in our life.
Thank you Amy for sharing your thoughts on what you learned from the scriptures. You have inspired me to go dig into my scriptures and get my study on.
I have been having a hard time lately. You know the scripture - blessed are they that mourn they will be comforted...well what you said after about seeing someone struggle but not being able to help them? Going through that right now. And it's awful. My little brother just eloped in vegas. Making choices in his life that are just hurting him...drugs, fired from job...etc....well, you have given me some thoughts that I am going to take to the scriptures and to the Lord about that. So, thank you for that. :)
Amie,
You have such a beautiful soul. Your thoughts remind me of a talk given by Jeffery Holland about the poor in spirit found at this link.
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-602-22,00.html
love you...
I love you, Amie (and I miss you! I hate Jan & Feb in MT!). Thanks for sharing.
"Blessed are the bloggers, for they shall receive comments in the section for commenting on their blog."
I appreciate your thoughts, too, Amie. A lot of times we've got to put in some effort to understand what these scribes and translators were trying to get across to us. I love the beatitudes...they cover a lot of life's territory. Your insights into the peacemakers and those who mourn were particularly choice.
Hey Amy,
I liked reading your blog. It is interesting to me to read because I am not mormon. I know we both read the Bible, but like you said there are a million different interpretations and that is why there are so many different denominations of the church. Who's to say who's interpretation is right or wrong (of course we all think our interpretation is right, but we will only truly know when we are face to face with God).
I think you were right on track though. And really about studying the Bible... it is hard for all of us. I know the OT can be a torurous read, but for me it is more bearable if I read one book and then skip to a short book in the NT and then go back to a book in the OT and so on. It takes a lot of dedication to read it straight through and not totally space out while your doing it. They are a bunch of books and I know they are in order for the most part, but you don't have to read them in order. It is better to read them out of order than not at all, right?
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