October 2
Mark 3:7-19; Luke 6:12-16; Matthew 5:1-12; Luke 6:17-26; Matthew 5:13-48; Luke 6:27-36; Matthew 6:1-4
We often throw around the phrase, I'm blessed. Sometimes this is used as a recognition of God's grace in our lives, but often we are only talking about material blessings. Jesus' definition of those who are "blessed" in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is potentially very different than how we use the statement.
We are told that the blessed are the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. When we choose to be humble/poor in spirit, we are in a place to allow God to lead and guide us. When we are mourning, we recognize this world cannot satisfy our deepest longings. We need to look to God for satisfaction. When we are meek, we are allowing God to empower and control us. These attitudes not only leave us open to God's work in our lives now but keep us forward looking to the end of all things. We are looking to God's kingdom and our ultimate inheritance. It does us no good to gain the whole world and yet forfeit our souls; instead, we should be allowing God to shape our souls now in a way that prepares us for eternity. So let us say we are blessed because we know Christ rather than simply have an abundance of possessions.
Father God, help me to live for your glory and eternal purposes rather than my own ambitions. Amen.
Which one of the beatitudes do you need to ask God to cultivate in your life this week?
We often throw around the phrase, I'm blessed. Sometimes this is used as a recognition of God's grace in our lives, but often we are only talking about material blessings. Jesus' definition of those who are "blessed" in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is potentially very different than how we use the statement.
We are told that the blessed are the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. When we choose to be humble/poor in spirit, we are in a place to allow God to lead and guide us. When we are mourning, we recognize this world cannot satisfy our deepest longings. We need to look to God for satisfaction. When we are meek, we are allowing God to empower and control us. These attitudes not only leave us open to God's work in our lives now but keep us forward looking to the end of all things. We are looking to God's kingdom and our ultimate inheritance. It does us no good to gain the whole world and yet forfeit our souls; instead, we should be allowing God to shape our souls now in a way that prepares us for eternity. So let us say we are blessed because we know Christ rather than simply have an abundance of possessions.
Father God, help me to live for your glory and eternal purposes rather than my own ambitions. Amen.
Which one of the beatitudes do you need to ask God to cultivate in your life this week?
Recent
Archive
2025
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
March
Categories
no categories
No Comments