Perhaps one of the greatest sermons ever taught was given in a time of great turmoil and persecution—making it all the more relevant for reflection during this pandemic. A recent episode of Straight Talk with Dr. Mike on the Charisma Podcast Network seeks to redefine the Beatitudes to fit our modern age. As Dr. Mike says, “If there’s ever been a time to see how our attitude should be, now is the time.”
Just as the Beatitudes were “diametrically opposite” of the norm of that society, Dr. Mike says following their example will often put us in opposition to what society deems to be the norm. And perhaps that’s the very goal. With society expectations and norms shifting with each new story of racial unrest, looting or COVID-19 cases rising, Dr. Mike warns us not to base our attitudes off of what the media portrays our culture to be. We must “be careful not to allow the media to become your mentor and be your guide in this season,” he says.
Ultimately, redefining the Beatitudes for our time boils down to following one simple principle:
“Keep your mind on God. Keep your mind on the Word of God. … May the words of Christ dwell richly in your hearts,” Dr. Mike says. “That’s what we need more than ever before. We need men and women obedient to the Word of God.”
Will your attitude reflect the culture or your time spent in the Word of God? Listen to the full podcast here to encourage the latter. {eoa}
