Scripture: St. Matthew 5:1-9 (NKJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated
His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Devotion
Up is down. Right is left. Black is khaki. Jesus preaches one sermon and turns
our world upside down. Everything the world believes about the good life is
smothered. Everything the prosperity preachers preach is turned to ash. True
blessedness is not in having money in your pocket, equity in your home, or a
good reputation. True blessedness is not having a life free of anxieties, free
from sorrow, and free from pain. Chasing after all these things will not get
you true blessedness. It will only get you the opposite.
Instead, being poor and lowly, spiritually speaking, is true blessedness. Those
who admit they have nothing to offer God because they are poor in spirit stand
to gain everything from God, who graciously gives all good things. Those who
know how to mourn this world will receive the comfort of the life of the world
to come. The meek will rule with Christ, the ones that hunger for righteousness
will be filled up with Christ’s righteousness, and those who show mercy to
their fellow man will receive God’s mercy. The pure in heart will see God. The
peacemakers will be called sons of God. They will share in the inheritance of
Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, which on Earth means trial, tribulation,
betrayal, and loss, but in Heaven means everlasting life without sin.
Everything is backwards in the Kingdom of Heaven. Do not be downhearted when
life does not seem to be going your way. Do not be downcast when you suffer.
For this is the way of Christ, the truly blessed one, Who gives us all He has
and makes us blessed ones as well.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Daily posts are provided by The Reverend Jeffrey A.
Ahonen.
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