Each beatitude looks at different circumstances of life, and how all Christians are blessed through their faith. Jesus is laying out the virtues and values in life that will result in blessings. For example...

About 30 years ago there was a popular movement in youth programming, with such groups as Campus Crusade for Christ, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Young Life. They would go to high schools and they would target and recruit the cool kids. The focus on the most well known popular kids they could identify with; the natural leaders. They would focus on having the fun activities with the cool kids and other kids would then be attracted and drawn into the program.

At what point does one over-step healthy self-direction and it becomes self-focused idolatry? Rather than the exercise of faithful God-given human freedom? And I don’t mean legally. We could have as many legal answers as there are legal systems. It should surprise no one that in our nation of many freedoms that people have great latitude to make their own decisions. If you are going to have true freedom, that includes freedom to be foolish, as well as wise.

And as people of faith our decisions are not made based on what will advance us the most economically or professionally. They are made based on what is God’s call in our own unique circumstances and situations.

“Do not be afraid” doesn’t mean that there are not legitimately fearful things in this world, or that we should live naively oblivious to them. It means that when we encounter these legitimately fearful things that we do so knowing that we are under God’s guidance and protection. And that even if the worst comes to pass and calamity befalls us we belong to God in this world and the next. He will see us through life’s trials and enable us to stand up under life’s burdens.

Do Not Be Afraid was the message given to many who were part of the Christmas story.