September 30, 2022

BLESSED

Matthew 5:3-12

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Encouraging Words

We live in a period of time where our culture praises and blesses people for being aggressive go-getters who are independent and self-sufficient. Our Lord teaches us that the greater the rewards and accolades that we receive here on earth, the less we will receive in heaven because we have already reaped our rewards. In this sermon delivered by Jesus, himself, we see that true blessings, eternal blessings, do not come from actions that conform to what the world believes is best. The only actions that truly count are those that align with the way that God is calling us to, a way of humility and love for others. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!