Start at the Beginning

One of my favorite songs from the Sound of Music begins with Maria singing, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, when you read you begin with A, B, C, when you sing you begin with Do, Re, Mi.”  Maria wants to share her love of music with the children and encourages them to join her by teaching them the basics.  She gives each note a name and sings them in the order of a scale.  She understands that if they learn the notes and the general framework of music, they can join her in the joy of singing a song together.  That’s one of the beautiful things about music-- once you understand the basic structure, the song possibilities are endless!

In the gospel of Matthew, we find the Sermon on the Mount, and at the beginning of the sermon is a section of verses often referred to as the Beatitudes.  This is the place that I have chosen to begin my study of the word “blessed,” because its repetition caught my attention and sparked my interest in wanting to dig deeper into the word.  While the sermon was given in the presence of a multitude of people, it was specifically directed to Jesus’ disciples.  The Beatitudes embody the fundamental characteristics of a true believer in Christ, and thus a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.  It is important to understand from the outset that we cannot achieve this kind of living without the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit. 

Perhaps it is the musician in me, but as I read through the Beatitudes it reminded me of a musical scale.  The first note of a scale is called the root note.  The melody of a song is built on, and revolves around the root. Just as Maria started with the naming of the notes of a scale, so Christ names the characteristics that describe a true believer in ascending order.  Jesus teaches his disciples that the root or foundation of a life with Him begins with, and revolves around, a spirit of brokenness and humility.  It means acknowledging that you are a sinner, completely unable to save yourself.  Without an emptying of yourself, you cannot be filled with the Spirit who enables you to live as a true representative of His kingdom.  All of the other “notes” of His scale are based in humility, and that is why He begins with it.  It is the foundation on which your life in the kingdom is built.

The characteristics listed in the Beatitudes serve as both the identifiable marks, as well as ongoing goals, of a believer.  He promises blessing, both now and forever, to all who call upon His name and live according to His commands.  He invites us to join Him in the song of heaven, and the first note we must learn to sing is humility.  To sing His song is to be truly blessed indeed.