TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12
Read: Matthew 5:1-12
Listen: Matthew 5
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus started this message by telling the disciples and crowd what it looks like to begin a relationship with God. It requires a heart that acknowledges its spiritual poverty, so it turns to Jesus as the only answer. This turning means life in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus then goes on to describe the person who experiences the blessed kingdom life. It’s a person who mourns their sin, is meek, hungers and thirsts for righteousness, is merciful, has a pure heart and is a peacemaker. Jesus ends with those who suffer because of their kingdom character. He reminds those who suffer for following him that they are a part of the kingdom of heaven. They not only experience the life God offers now, but in some way, God promises to reward them for their faithfulness to him.
Throughout this series, we’ve seen that Jesus’s life of blessing is different than our culture’s. For Jesus, blessings aren’t about our bank balance, the number of likes on our social media posts, our job title or where we go on vacation. Jesus says the blessed life is about developing the character of God. As God’s character is developed in us, we find ourselves experiencing the blessing of living the way God created us to live. Watch this video as Pastor Aaron reminds us it will be worth it.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Recommit to developing the character of God. Read through Matthew 5:1-12 one more time. Choose one of the character traits to focus on and step into the blessed life that Jesus offers.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 1.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
