Bible Studies

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The Gospels
Matthew 5:1-12 - Blessings for Life
Key Verses: (NLT)

• 1: "One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with His disciples and sat down to teach them." - (The Beatitudes are very familiar verses - perhaps too familiar. It is my prayer that through this devotional you will be able to take the time to read them carefully, once again, with an open heart ready to be filled with the glory of God's kingdom in a new and exciting way.)
  
  
• 3: "God blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them."
  
  
• 4: "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
  
  
• 5: "God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them."
  
  
• 6: "God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full."
  
  
• 7: "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy."
  
  
• 8: "God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God."
  
  
• 9: "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."
  
  
• 10: "God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs."
  
  
• 11: "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." - Be happy! These are images of eternal life within God's kingdom.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• What are the Beatitudes to you? Are they a smorgasbord of Christian ethics where you go to see if you can find yourself among the Blessed? Do you look into this list to see if you have achieved some level of blessedness? Or are they a measure for Christian righteousness similar to a child's growth chart by which you should periodically stand in order to see how your pathway into holiness is progressing? Are they unattainable goals reserved for saints? Or are they promises from God that reveal the extent of His glory in everyone's life, even the outcasts of our society?
  
  
• Who would you include on the list of the "Blessed?" In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reveals the kingdom of heaven for us all to see. He shows us the extent of God's influence in our lives. Where have you seen limitations to God's glory in your life? Are there people you are holding back from sharing the Good News? Are there outcasts in your community that need to hear they are children of God? Should you become more accepting of these people so that, through you, they may see a glimpse of God's kingdom?
  
  
• Are you a "good" Christian? "What makes a person a "good Christian" as opposed to a nominal Christian in our day? Is it community service? Or is it how long or how often we attend church?"¹ Are you defined by your good works and criticized by your shortfalls? If you measure yourself against a standard of holiness, won't you always fall short? And, yet, isn't a life in Christ supposed to bring about real change; a change that others can see and are attracted to? If you fail are you creating barriers to God's kingdom for others? Or is simply living in the embrace of God enough? Do you see that when you give your life into His loving care, the kingdom of heaven will be revealed for all to see regardless of your humanistic tendencies?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

"It is easy to major in the minors and miss the things that matter most to God. Righteousness is not measured by religious activity; it is found in lifestyle. Justice, kindness, and humility are not Sunday morning (or Saturday-afternoon-once-a-month) pursuits; they are best seen in day-to-day interactions with those around us. The beatitudes were not given to us to be placed on a list and admired. They are spiritual qualities to be lived into."¹ The Beatitudes give us a reason to rejoice for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and we have a front row seat… a front row seat if we choose to involve ourselves in bringing love, mercy, comfort, food, healing, peace, and truth into the lives of the outcast and forgotten of the world.

¹General Board of Discipleship, The United Methodist Church, Preaching Helps for January 30, 2005, Notes on Matthew 5:1-12

FUMC Devotionals
BLOG: Reflections from the Left

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