APRIL 8, 2025 ~ FROM A PASTOR'S HEART

APRIL 8 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 5:1-12

In Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus begins the "Sermon On the Mount" with the Beatitudes...there are eight of them. They all begin with the word blessed, sometimes translated as happy. This portion of Scripture is loved by so many, which is strange, because what Jesus says in them is clearly contrary to the way the world works. He said things like, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" and "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." He even said that those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness are blessed, for they belong to the Kingdom of God. These blessings are promises from God that go much deeper than shallow gifts of temporary happiness. They speak of what we ought to be in the Kingdom of God, or what our attitudes ought to be in order to know the blessings of Christ. These speak of our character.

I love the statement made by Adrian Rogers..."Your reputation is what others think about you, but your character is what God knows about you." The blessings of the Beatitudes are because of who we are in Christ, not because of what we do, or because of what we have. Even in the church we have let the world dictate how we find and describe blessings. The primary things we speak of when we are asked to share our blessings is to list what we have. We very rarely hear anybody say, "I am blessed beyond measure to be a child of God!" It is because who God has made us in Jesus Christ that we are blessed. Take a look at these eight statements of Christ...in each one I hope first of all you see Jesus. We must stop being like the world and speaking of blessings in the material sense or in the accomplishment sense...and know we are eternally blessed because we are the children of the living God!

Please share your thoughts.