Living the Beatitudes: Mabel's Journey of Faith

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explore the profound truth of the Beatitudes as lived out in the life of an extraordinary woman named Mabel. The Beatitudes, as taught by Jesus, challenge the world's perception of who is truly blessed. They reveal that the good life is not reserved for the rich, powerful, or beautiful, but is available to all who live permeated by the love of God. Mabel's story is a testament to this truth. Despite her physical afflictions and isolation in a convalescent hospital, Mabel embodied the essence of being blessed. Her life was marked by a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus, which sustained her through years of suffering and solitude.

Mabel's unwavering faith and gratitude, even in the face of indescribable hardship, illustrate the transformative power of God's presence. Her ability to find joy and contentment in Jesus, despite her circumstances, challenges us to reconsider our understanding of what it means to be blessed. Mabel's life was a living Beatitude, a real-life example of the Kingdom of Heaven being present in the most unlikely of places. Her story invites us to reflect on our own lives and consider how we might live as real Beatitudes, experiencing the good life through a deep connection with God.

Key Takeaways:

- The Beatitudes redefine what it means to be blessed, emphasizing that the good life is accessible to all who live in the love of God, regardless of worldly status or circumstances. Mabel's life exemplifies this truth, as she found profound joy and satisfaction in her relationship with Jesus despite her suffering. [00:48]

- Mabel's story challenges us to see beyond physical appearances and circumstances to recognize the presence of God's Kingdom in unexpected places. Her life was a testament to the power of faith and gratitude, even in the face of immense hardship. [05:17]

- The transformative power of God's love is evident in Mabel's ability to find contentment and joy in Jesus, despite her isolation and physical afflictions. Her unwavering faith serves as a powerful reminder of the sustaining presence of God in our lives. [08:34]

- Mabel's life invites us to reflect on our own understanding of what it means to be blessed. Her story challenges us to seek a deeper connection with God, finding our satisfaction and joy in Him rather than in worldly achievements or possessions. [09:07]

- The Beatitudes call us to live as real Beatitudes, embodying the love and presence of God in our daily lives. Mabel's example encourages us to live with gratitude and faith, trusting in the goodness of God even in the midst of life's challenges. [10:48]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to the Beatitudes
[00:34] - The Good Life Defined by Jesus
[01:02] - Upside-Down Kingdom
[01:18] - Living the Sermon on the Mount
[01:47] - Salt and Light
[02:16] - The Story of Mabel
[03:08] - Mabel's Life in the Hospital
[03:46] - Encountering Mabel
[05:17] - Mabel's Gift of a Flower
[06:00] - Mabel's Faith and Gratitude
[08:34] - Mabel's Thoughts on Jesus
[09:24] - Mabel's Song of Faith
[10:48] - The Beatitudes in Real Life
[11:19] - Conclusion and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Beatitudes and the Life of Mabel

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 5:3-12 (The Beatitudes)
- James 1:2-4 (Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds...)
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...")

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus say about who is blessed in the Beatitudes, and how does this contrast with the world's view of being blessed? [00:34]

2. How did Mabel's physical condition and environment challenge the typical perception of a blessed life? [03:08]

3. What were some of the ways Mabel demonstrated her faith and gratitude despite her circumstances? [05:30]

4. How did Mabel's story illustrate the presence of God's Kingdom in unexpected places? [06:00]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Mabel's life challenge the common understanding of what it means to be blessed according to the Beatitudes? [10:48]

2. In what ways does Mabel's story reflect the transformative power of God's love as described in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10?

3. How might Mabel's ability to find joy and contentment in Jesus, despite her suffering, serve as a model for living out James 1:2-4? [08:34]

4. What does Mabel's story suggest about the importance of a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus in experiencing the good life? [09:07]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel isolated or afflicted? How can Mabel's example inspire you to find joy and contentment in Jesus despite these challenges? [08:34]

2. Consider the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. Which of these blessings do you find most challenging to embrace in your current life situation, and why?

3. Mabel found satisfaction and joy in her relationship with Jesus rather than in worldly achievements. What steps can you take to deepen your connection with God and find your satisfaction in Him? [09:07]

4. Mabel's life was a testament to the power of faith and gratitude. How can you cultivate a spirit of gratitude in your daily life, even when facing hardships? [05:30]

5. Think about a time when you felt God's presence in an unexpected place or situation. How did that experience change your understanding of God's Kingdom?

6. Mabel's story invites us to live as real Beatitudes. What practical actions can you take this week to embody the love and presence of God in your interactions with others? [10:48]

7. Identify one aspect of your life where you can apply the lessons from Mabel's story. What specific change will you make to live more fully in the love of God? [09:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Redefining Blessedness Through God's Love
The Beatitudes challenge conventional notions of blessedness, revealing that true fulfillment is found in living within God's love, irrespective of worldly status. Mabel's life exemplifies this truth, as she discovered profound joy and satisfaction in her relationship with Jesus despite her suffering. Her story invites us to reconsider our understanding of what it means to be blessed, encouraging us to seek a deeper connection with God. [00:48]

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from worldly achievements to nurturing your relationship with God today?


Day 2: Recognizing God's Kingdom in Unexpected Places
Mabel's story challenges us to see beyond physical appearances and circumstances to recognize the presence of God's Kingdom in unexpected places. Her life was a testament to the power of faith and gratitude, even in the face of immense hardship. By looking past the surface, we can find God's work in the most unlikely situations, reminding us that His Kingdom is not bound by worldly standards. [05:17]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that seems bleak or challenging. How might you look beyond the surface to see God's presence and work in that situation?


Day 3: The Transformative Power of God's Love
The transformative power of God's love is evident in Mabel's ability to find contentment and joy in Jesus, despite her isolation and physical afflictions. Her unwavering faith serves as a powerful reminder of the sustaining presence of God in our lives. This transformation invites us to trust in God's love, allowing it to reshape our perspectives and bring us peace amidst life's trials. [08:34]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle to find contentment. How can you invite God's transformative love into that area today?


Day 4: Seeking Satisfaction in God Alone
Mabel's life invites us to reflect on our own understanding of what it means to be blessed. Her story challenges us to seek a deeper connection with God, finding our satisfaction and joy in Him rather than in worldly achievements or possessions. By prioritizing our relationship with God, we can experience true fulfillment and peace, regardless of our circumstances. [09:07]

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you." (Psalm 73:25, ESV)

Reflection: Consider one thing you often rely on for satisfaction. How can you shift your focus to find your ultimate joy and fulfillment in God instead?


Day 5: Living as Real Beatitudes
The Beatitudes call us to live as real Beatitudes, embodying the love and presence of God in our daily lives. Mabel's example encourages us to live with gratitude and faith, trusting in the goodness of God even in the midst of life's challenges. By embodying these principles, we can become living testimonies of God's Kingdom, bringing hope and light to those around us. [10:48]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody the Beatitudes in your daily interactions this week, bringing God's love and presence to those around you?

Quotes


The greatest teacher whoever lived, the greatest talk ever given, said what's insurmountable in this world is not your problems, your challenges, your pain. We're going to read about those today. It's the actual real available presence of God's kingdom, God's love, and God's care with you right there. [00:19:28]

The good life is the life that is lived permeated by the love of God, and there is no one who is shut off from that. Everything the world says about who alone has access to the good life—the rich, the beautiful, the powerful, and the famous—he just turns it all upside down. [00:46:40]

I never heard her speak of loneliness or pain except in the stress she placed on certain lines in certain hymns. It was not many weeks before I turned from a sense that I was being helpful to a sense of wonder, and I would go to her with a pen and paper to write down the things she would say. [07:40:00]

During one hectic week of final exams, I was frustrated because my mind seemed to be pulled in ten directions at once with all the things I had to think about. The question occurred to me: what does Mabel have to think about hour after hour, day after day, week after week? [08:05:00]

I went to her and asked, "Mabel, what do you think about when you lie there?" And she said, "I think about my Jesus." I sat there and thought for a moment about the difficulty for me of thinking about Jesus for even five minutes, and I asked, "What do you think about Jesus?" [08:31:40]

She replied slowly and deliberately as I wrote, "I think about how good he's been to me. Blessed, blessed, blessed. He's been awfully good to me in my life, you know. I'm one of those kind who's mostly satisfied. Lots of folks wouldn't care much for what I think." [08:50:00]

"Lots of folks would think I'm kind of old-fashioned, but I don't care. I'd rather have Jesus. He's all the world to me." And then Mabel began to sing an old hymn: "Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all. He is my strength from day to day; without him, I would fall." [09:04:39]

When I am sad, he makes me glad. He's my friend. And then when my friend writes, this is not fiction. Incredible as it may seem, a human being really lived like this. I know. I knew her. How could she do it? Seconds ticked, and minutes crawled, and so did days and weeks and months and years of pain. [09:49:39]

Without human company and without an explanation of why it was all happening, she lay there and sang hymns. How could she do it? And of course, this is exactly what Jesus said 20 years ago: blessed, blessed people regarded by folks in our world as hopeless cases. [10:08:00]

The rejected, the forgotten, the isolated, the alone, the useless, the elderly, the alien. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn, for theirs now is the Kingdom of Heaven. You can come right on it and live in it if you want to with Jesus as your friend. [10:30:00]

So that's your song for today: when I am sad, he makes me glad. He's my friend. Make it a golden rule day if you like hearing John talk about The Sermon on the Mount. We've got a whole series on that, so go ahead and subscribe to make sure you don't miss any future episodes in that series. [11:01:59]

You can also go back and catch up on any episodes that you may have missed. Now, if you're interested in the email or the text alert that goes along with each episode, you can let us know at becomenew.com. Subscribe, and we'll make sure that you get those. [11:19:00]

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Transcript
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