I was having dinner with a group of people I had just met when I excused myself to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, I was horrified— I had something stuck in my teeth. Immediately, I wondered, How long has that been there? No one at the table had mentioned it, and I didn’t blame them; we didn’t know each other well. Still, I felt embarrassed. The worst part? I had no idea anything was wrong until I was confronted with my reflection. I fixed the issue and carried on with dinner.
We need that same kind of confrontation spiritually.
God, in His kindness, provides mirrors for us—not just literal ones, but spiritual ones. He uses Scripture, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, godly friends who see what we can’t, and even books from faithful pastors of old. One such book in my life has been Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. He writes:
I have no hesitation again in asserting that the failure of the Church to have a greater impact on the life of men and women in the world today is due entirely to the fact that her own life is not in order… Every revival proves clearly that men who are outside the Church always become attracted when the Church herself begins to function truly as the Christian Church, and as individual Christians approximate to the description here given in the beatitudes.
Lloyd-Jones reminds us that the church is most effective when it prioritizes holiness over cultural relevance. Church history shows that decline often begins with neglecting God’s Word, leading to slow compromise. Evangelism is essential, but we must first ask ourselves: Are we living in obedience to God’s commands? The Beatitudes serve as a powerful mirror, revealing where we truly stand.
The Beatitudes Confront Us
Like a mirror showing what we wouldn’t otherwise notice, the Beatitudes expose our spiritual condition. When we read Jesus’ words, we must ask: Do I reflect this? These aren’t surface-level checklists; they reveal our desperate need for grace.
The Beatitudes Push Us
The Beatitudes cut to the heart. At our core, we are spiritually poor, helpless, and mourning over sin. We naturally seek power and recognition, yet Jesus calls us to meekness and humility. True mercy, peacemaking, and endurance through persecution—these are not traits we can manufacture on our own. They require the transforming work of the Spirit.
The Beatitudes Reassure Us
Though the Beatitudes confront and challenge us, they also come with promises. When we read about the poor in spirit, Jesus promises the kingdom of heaven. To those who mourn, true comfort. To the meek, an inheritance of the earth. These blessings are not rewards for effort but gifts of God’s unmerited grace.
A Mirror That Leads to Change
Like noticing something in our teeth and fixing it, the Beatitudes show us our need—but they don’t leave us in despair. They point us to Jesus, the only One who can make us clean. Through Him, we don’t just try harder; we are made new.
When we allow the Beatitudes to confront, push, and reassure us, we see that we are not the same anymore. And that’s the true evidence of grace.