TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:7-8
Read: Matthew 5:1-10
Listen: Matthew 5
TODAY’S MESSAGE
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers that a Kingdom-oriented life involves how we relate to God. Our relationship with God, in turn, should impact how we live. Reading the Beatitudes, we see the first four speak to our relationship with God. The second four address our relationships with others. These foundational teachings build on each other in very practical ways.
This week, we look at where Jesus explains that people can miss out on the life of blessing. To make sure we don’t will probably require making some changes. It may even mean doing some things we really don’t want to do. But if we say, “No thanks, I’m good,” we risk missing out on the blessing God created us for.
We should note that we don’t do the things Jesus teaches so God will like us more. God already loves his children with an everlasting love (Psalm 103:17). Living the life Jesus describes is only possible through the power of God’s Spirit. When we trust Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, God’s Spirit indwells us (Romans 8:9-11) and gives us the ability to live a life characterized in the Beatitudes.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray a prayer of openness similar to this, “Father, I want to live how you want your children to live. To do this, I know I need to make changes. With the power of your Spirit, help me to make the difficult changes you call me to make. Keep me focused on you and your love for me. Amen.”
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 8.
