The fifth beatitude gives us our direction for this week: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” The Message puts it this way: “You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.” The readings this week are selected to resonate with this idea: The Kingdom of God is full of those who are merciful, those who make room for grace, and those who give when the receivers are unworthy.
How can you acknowledge your life in ways that allows for you to rely more upon God and his power rather than your own? How do you see this in the life and example of Christ?
Pray to God each day, asking that this time you’re spending only before him would help you live for and through Christ. If you’ve committed to reading the whole Sermon on the Mount for a given number of days/times each week, be sure to do so.
Monday, July 18 - Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Tuesday, July 19 - Matthew 5:3-12, Psalm 145
Wednesday, July 20 - Matthew 5:3-12, John 7:52-8:11, John 20:19-23
Thursday, July 21 - Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 18:35-43, Luke 23:32-43
Friday, July 22 - Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 9:9-13
Saturday, July 23 - Matthew 5:3-12, Philemon
Sunday, July 24 - Come to worship with your church family!
