Learning the Jesus Way of LifeSample

What It’s Like When God Is in Charge (Part 1)

Pray: Jesus, give me the faith to go where you go, do what you do, trust what you say, and love how you love. Today, I commit to following you. Amen.

Following Jesus is a way of life, but how can we know the way? We’re glad you asked.

For the second week of this Plan, we are going to do a deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount. It’s a collection of teachings from Jesus that paint a picture of what life is like when God is in charge—when the kingdom of heaven (the place where God rules and reigns) comes near. Jesus is showing us how to make His way of life, our way of life.

So, let’s start by answering the first question: Who is invited into God’s kingdom? Who can actually be part of the Jesus way of life? The answer? Everyone. Especially the people you wouldn’t expect.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “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 children 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. Matthew 5:1–12 NIV

Read through that again (seriously, go back and read it again slowly).

The same people society would look at and call cursed, Jesus calls blessed. The people the world would assume are overlooked and forgotten, Jesus brings attention to. And the people we might think are unworthy? Jesus says they will be rewarded.

What’s going on here? Is Jesus on some kind of a compassion kick, just feeling bad for people who have it rough? Of course, Jesus is wildly compassionate. But these declarations of blessing are not empty words. He is showing just how different God’s kingdom is from the cultures of our world. Because …

When God is in charge, the last become first, the least are most, and the lost find a home.

The kingdom of heaven rejects the ethics of “might makes right” and “survival of the fittest.” In the kingdom of God, the strong serve the weak and love really does conquer all.

That means your social status doesn’t exclude you. Your past mistakes don’t disqualify you. Where you come from in life doesn’t define you. The good news that Jesus spent His life teaching and preaching is that the kingdom of heaven has come near, and everyone is invited in!

When we say yes to the Jesus way of life, we are choosing to live within the boundaries of God’s kingdom, under His rightful rule. Who we are changes. How we show up in the world changes. And God starts using us to change the world.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14–16 NIV

When we turn away from sin and aim our lives toward God, Jesus rescues us from death and darkness and makes us into people of light. He leads us into His way of life and directs us with His love.

Wherever we go, Jesus is with us. And the way we live life, from the words we say to the actions we take, becomes a giant flashing sign that points people toward heaven and shows them who God is.

When God is in charge, we become a light shining in the darkness for all to see.

The introduction of the Sermon on the Mount is a declaration of the grace of God that is available to all people. Jesus wants His listeners to know, before He gets to anything else, that the kingdom of God is built on a bedrock of blessing. When God is in charge, mercy is available to all who ask, forgiveness flows freely, truth and justice are never neglected, and His goodness and grace transform us into people who think, speak, and act more like Jesus.

This is the “more” you were made for. Living life like Jesus did. Walking out what it means to be chosen by God. Practicing and teaching the Jesus way of life. Letting the rule and reign of King Jesus work itself out in our real, everyday lives.

Application: What parts of your life would look different if you really lived like God was in charge? What would change about how you see yourself if you knew you were not overlooked or forgotten but blessed and chosen? What would change about how you show up at school, work, or at home if you thought of every action you take and word you say as an opportunity to point someone toward a God who loves them? What if you stopped pretending to follow Jesus and started taking Him seriously, instead? Process these questions on your own in a journal or with the friends you are doing this Plan with, and commit to making one of the changes you identify for your life.