"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
This week, we are exploring the theme of the blessed, and one of the most famous and popular passages in the bible on this topic is the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes appear in Matthew 5, as follows:
"He said:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 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: 3-12
For this sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches us what we should focus on. So many times in life, we are asked to strive for success in this world, seeking happiness in this life, shying away from grief and persecution, and taught to be "street smart" and hardened to be strong in life. Yet, Jesus's teaching is the opposite. He teaches us that it is okay to be meek and pure in the heart. He teaches us that we should be seeking to be hungry and thirst for righteousness instead of for wealth and good food on this earth. We are reassured that we would be comforted when we mourn, and to be encouraged when we are persecuted because of our faith. After all, our reward is in heaven--that's what counts. We have to play the long game.
Know what matters, and know that when we seek Jesus, we will be blessed.
Reflection: How do you think God has blessed you in your life?
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The Beatitudes will be our focus for this week's blog. Enjoy this devotional and our worship music channels on Christian Calm Radio.