Matthew 5

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Beatitudes are a list of some of the ways in which Christians should behave.  There is a promise from God attached to each of them, showing how we will be blessed if we choose to live God’s way.  Look at the list to see why we are fortunate and envied (blessed): The kingdom of heaven is ours, we will inherit the earth, we will be shown mercy, and we will be called children of God… just to name a few. We must always remain humble, recognize our need for Him, be merciful towards others, and be peacemakers in this world that is torn apart by division. In this way we will act the way Jesus modeled for us to live. And we don’t have to do it on our own. He has given us the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. Thank You Lord for this incredible gift!

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We are the light of the world.  We are called to do good deeds, and that is the way we shine that light in this dark world.  We should also live with an understanding of the freedom that comes from being in Christ.  We are free from the power of sin.  Yes, we will still sin, but through Christ we do not have to worry about eternal consequences, as long as we do not go on sinning with an attitude of entitlement.  This promise of heaven and eternal life with God, along with the peace that comes from casting all of our cares on God, should allow us to enjoy our lives and radiate joy.  People will see that and wonder how they can get it, and that is one of the best ways to bring others to Christ.