The last of the beatitudes gives us our direction for this week:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The Message puts it this way: “You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”
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. For your convenience, another different translation of Matthew 5:3-12 is on the back of this sheet.
Monday, August 8 - Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
Tuesday, August 9 - Matthew 5:3-12, Psalm 143
Wednesday, August 10 - Matthew 5:3-12, Mark 6:1-6
Thursday, August 11 - Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 4:14-30
Friday, August 12 - Matthew 5:3-12, Acts 5:17-42
Saturday, August 13 - Matthew 5:3-12, 2 Corinthians 4:8-18
Sunday, August 14 - Come to worship with your church family!
