Walking The Narrow Path: How The Sermon On The Mount Shapes Christian Living

Note: Libbey Haymond (author) is a board member here at Truthful Hope, and as part of her studies, wrote an encouraging article based on what she has learned from her study of the Sermon on the Mount. We pray this article is encouraging for you!

Jesus’s teaching from the mountain to his disciples has a significant impact on the growth and maturity of all Christians. The beatitudes demonstrate the life of the believer through a process of sanctification, a gradual process of growth and spiritual maturity as we seek to know Him more and obey His commands. When I think about what this looks like in my own life, I picture a staircase climbing up to Heaven with Jesus standing at the top, hands wide open, ready to embrace me once I reach full sanctification and am complete in Him.

As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18). Also, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

This narrow way of life is difficult, and we cannot do it without His help. We must be poor in spirit, recognizing that we are nothing without Him. When we believe, the Holy Spirit indwells within us, leading, guiding, convicting, and teaching us (John 15:26; Rom. 8:9). This conviction causes us to mourn (grieve) our sins. God comforts us as we grieve and while we travel through storms in our lives. These are the things that help us grow and mature. As we begin to learn that he works all things out for our good, we become meek, acting out of humility and kindness rather than hostility. As a result, God blesses us with the strength we need to continue living a life of spiritual prosperity as we learn to follow Him.

We hunger and thirst for righteousness, yearning to know Him more intimately and to become more like Him. As it says in Jeremiah 29:12-13, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:12-13). God fills us with His righteousness. He is faithful to those who hunger for more of Him. At this point in our journey, we begin to see Jesus’s character manifested in us, making us more like Him. We begin to demonstrate the love of Jesus to those around us by loving others, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and pouring out the love of Jesus on those around us. In turn, He pours out His mercy on us. As we live out our lives of mercy, we become pure in heart, rightly devoting our focus on God and His will for our lives.

We begin to live our lives with purpose, seeking to be obedient and do His will, not our own. As we continue on in this pursuit of righteousness, we learn to become peacemakers. As Paul wrote in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18). Also, later in the same letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote, “So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Rom 14:19). The more we become more like Jesus, the more the enemy attacks us. Thus, we ought to constantly be on the lookout. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8).

The more we stand on our faith in God and our unwavering pursuit to live more like Him, the more persecution we face. Satan will use situations and people who are important to us to cause us to stumble and fall from our road to becoming more like Jesus. When we reach this fork in our spiritual growth, we can choose to be discouraged and give up, or we can lean in deeper and further our resolve to follow Jesus.