Resolve to model Christ

In today’s devotional, we’ll continue our previous list of resolutions from the Beatitudes.

The fifth beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

Grace gives what we don’t deserve; mercy does not give what we do deserve.

Our culture knows little of mercy. We are driven by performance, possessions, and perfection. So we drive our children to succeed as we have. Recent periodicals have documented the problem of sports stress, for instance, as parents live vicariously through their children and push them to succeed at all costs.

But God knows that we fail more than we succeed and that our children need our forgiveness, unconditional love, and mercy.

So here’s our fifth Father’s Day resolution: “I will forgive my children when they fail.”

Just as your Father forgives you.

The sixth beatitude promises, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

To be “pure in heart” means to live by God’s single purpose for your life. What is that purpose? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39).

Our culture defines success by how much we own, God’s by how much we give. Our culture measures us by how many people love us; God measures us by how many people we love.

So here’s our sixth Father’s Day resolution: “I will love my Father, my family, and others unconditionally.”

The seventh beatitude states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

A “peacemaker” is one who seeks righteous resolution to the conflict, not just the absence of conflict but the presence of justice.

Our culture thrives on competition, victory, and success. God wants our families to live in harmony and peace with each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect and love.

So here’s our seventh Father’s Day resolution: “I will teach my children to respect and love each other.”

The last beatitude concludes: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).

Living by these principles will cost us. Humility, confession of sin, submission to God, biblical thinking, forgiveness, unconditional love, and mutual respect are not popular values in our culture.

So here’s our last Father’s Day resolution: “I will pay any price to be a man of God.”

Our God, and our families, are worth our sacrifice.

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