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Christ’s birth is a very important day in the Christian calendar. Today, is the last day of 2023 A.D.  – A.D. meaning the year of the Lord.  People look forward to tomorrow as an important day, the first day in a new year. New Year’s Day comes around and everyone is greeting each other with Happy New Year. The sincere thought must be for happier times. As Bible believing Christians, what do we hope for in the New Year? Could it be world peace, the healing of loved ones who are sick? The hope we have is nothing like the aspiration of this world, who have hope in such things as the lottery.

In this passage of scripture in Matthew chapter 5 we read about being blessed, being happy. What would make us happy? Some Christians have enough religion to keep them out of the pub on a Saturday night, but not off the golf course on a Sunday morning. Some people will have enough religion to recognise the need for prayer but not enough to take them to the prayer meeting. Many churches have an effigy of Christ still nailed to the cross. They don’t know true happiness. What about us? Are we truly happy?

Can you name eight things that would make you happy, 8 things to start a New Year?

The Beatitudes are eight steps to happiness. Billy Graham referred to them as the ‘Beautiful Attitudes.’ Jesus begins by saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3). Jesus speaks of our spiritual neediness and the way of supplying our need. People who are poor in spirit do not boast; they know everything comes from His grace. Humility enables you to be honest about yourself. The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy). If you want to be happy you need to be aware of your spiritual poverty. Poverty in spirit is the beginning of happiness. The moment you commit all you have to Christ, total submission to the will of God, you are compelled to commit your true potential to God. Then ours will be the Kingdom of God.

Jesus goes on to promise, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4). There is grief because of sin. The second beatitudes speaks of something deeper than self-pity. The right kind of mourning is the person who is truly sorry for their sins. A deep sorrow for sin is a trait, an outstanding mark of a Christian. Happy also is the man who is sorrowful for the sins of others. Jesus Christ took the penalty of our sins for Himself. Jesus wept as He stood at the tomb of Lazarus, because sin had brought death into the world.

What is the reward promised for this beatitude? “They shall be comforted.” The Holy Spirit is the source of all comfort to repentant sinners. (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is the source of all comfort to a repentant Christian. Through Him, we have the comfort of knowing our sins are forgiven. Sorrow for sin leads to repentance. There is comfort in knowing we have been saved by God’s grace and not of our own works. There is also comfort in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5). Too many people confuse meekness with weakness. Meekness can be a person who is under control. His passions and actions have been brought under God’s control. They give a life of service. Christ is at the centre of their life. They realise they are living in the presence of God. When you are like this you are teachable. If you are teachable then you are humble. The meek will inherit the earth, those born again will inherit fellowship with God.

When Christians apply the teachings of Jesus, they are the rudder that guides our path of life. To many, the New Year will be an unknown quantity. They don’t know what the future might hold for them. But we have a signpost. We have a guide, a risen Saviour. If we approach Him in humility, we can be sure of a Happy New Year. When you are born again, you are filled with the Holy Spirit and you will enter a life of true blessing.