03/10 Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
SALT
Salt suggests purity, preservation and flavor. We bring that to the world. We are called to be pure. Jesus preserves us. We are different than the world. We will lose ourselves in service to others. We are always in opposition to evil. The world will react against you. When you are identified with Jesus you will be persecuted. Stand close to Jesus. He will protect you and go with you through every trial. You will feel the pain the world inflicts on the powerless. You will see the evil at work in the lives of friends and even family. Pray for them. Pray for the people of God. Pray for the hurting. Act like Jesus.
Author - Clay Corvin
03/09 Matthew 5:11-12
“God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
BLESSED
When you affirm that Christ is the only way to the Father you will be persecuted. The exclusiveness of this claim will cause the world to abuse you. This is our message (Acts 4:12) “There is no other name under heaven given among me, whereby we must be saved.”
03/08 Matthew 5:10
God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
PAIN
We will suffer for our Christian lifestyle. Others will attempt to harm us socially, physically or mentally. If you will God’s will you are different than the world that only wills its will. God’s will cuts across the will of humanity. Humanity’s response is either repentance and faith or rejection and persecution. There is a price to pay for following Jesus. Are you paying that price today?
03/07 Matthew 5:9
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
PEACE
Founders of peace are filled with the Lord Jesus. He is our peace and without Him we cannot have peace nor can we seek peace for others. Peace is not just the absence of evil but includes seeking the highest good for another. Being a peacemaker is to work for right relations between people, all people.
03/06 Matthew 5:8
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
SEE
Pure means unmixed or without alloy: integrity. Those of integrity deal with the world transparently. There is no hidden reason, no underlying motive. What you see is what you get. No one can serve two masters and the pure of heart serve only the Lord Jesus Christ. The pure of heart seek only the will of God.
03/05 Matthew 5:7
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
MERCY
You have been given mercy now you are a channel of mercy. Everyone that has experienced God’s grace is now used of the Lord to dispense mercy in the world. We identify with the struggle of others. We know their struggle and we care for them. This takes change and change involves suffering therefore I will, you will, suffer with those you live with.
03/04 Matthew 5:6
God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.
UNJUST
We live in a world that is unjust. So many face unfair, disappointing situations every day. The poor are often only guilty of being poor and society discards them. Jesus calls us to live a life that is sensitive to the needs of the mistreated. Seek His face and He will give you a heart for change. We are change agents in the world. Be about the Master’s business. Help the helpless and work for justice in our your world.
03/03 Matthew 5:5
God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.
GENTLE
A gentle spirit, not weak but under control is balanced between indifference and anger. Learn from the Lord’s Word and His activity in you as you serve Him. Accept forgiveness. Walk in grace. Live in love.
03/02 Matthew 5:4
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
MOURNING
We mourn because we care deeply about the suffering in the world. God will comfort us in our mourning. Sin is so pervasive, evil so destructive that we cannot bear it without the presence of the Lord. A broken and contrite hear the Lord will not despise.
03/01 Matthew 5:1-3
One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. 2 This is what he taught them: 3 “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.
BE ATTITUDES
Jesus calls us to change. Our spirituality is faith based and works from the inside out. What we think affects and changes what we do. We are a part of a covenant community that Jesus leads. We are on a mission of grace and healing. We minister in the world.