The values of Jesus-followers versus the values of the world as found in The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:2-11:

• Poor in spirit, humble                                     proud, competent, self-reliant
• Mourn, sad over sin                                       pleasure-seeking, carefree
• Hungry for God,                                            self-sufficient, satisfied
• Merciful                                                         self-righteous, able take care of themselves
• Pure in heart, holy                                         indulge in sin
• Peacemakers                                                competitive, aggressive
• Persecuted                                                   comfortable

This is a not a list that you and I need to do in order to achieve salvation and enter the Kingdom of Heaven; they’re an expression of someone who is already a part of the Kingdom, revealing to the world that they’ve been transformed. How is a person transformed? By the person and work of Jesus as we come to Him in faith.

So what should you do?

• If you’re not a Christian, embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior and enter the Kingdom by turning from your sins and trusting in Him.
• If you are a Christian and there’s areas where you’re not living out the above-stated values, look to Jesus and by His grace seek to intentionally live out The Sermon of the Mount.