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Matthew 5

Early in Jesus’ ministry, He sits on a mountainside and gathers His disciples. In perhaps the most powerful sermon of all time, He explains to them the qualities of kingdom citizens. His kingdom would include people who lived differently from the world. Those differences would be seeded in the heart. To show this, Jesus begins with what we call “the Beatitudes.” Qualities like humility, gentleness, and internal hunger for righteousness would define His people. Such hearts would explode into lives of great light for Christ, become salt upon the earth, and show righteousness that far surpasses the Jewish leaders of their day. Faithfulness would be as much about what you feel toward others as how you end up treating them, even enemies! Jesus is teaching that faithfulness begins with love. 

The sermon on the mount is incredibly valuable for believers. We must think and feel differently than this world, especially in the face of trials. We live so that Christ’s light shines through us, beginning deep within our hearts. We do not murder, but we also do not gossip. We do not commit adultery, but we also do not lust in our hearts. We do not retaliate, but we also seek to serve others. In many ways, the disciples of Jesus were counterculture, and continue to be today. Our first step of faith in God is to deny self. God loves all men and seeks to save them, and we should feel the same and be workers in His Son’s kingdom.   

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to come to this earth and show us Your character and heart. As Jesus taught us of His nature, we pray to take on His heart as our own. Lord, help us to be humble, to be gentle, to be pure in heart, and peacemakers. Give us opportunities to shine, even if that requires us to walk by faith in places of darkness. Give us the desire to do good to others out of love for You and for them, even our enemies. Please perfect us in Your love.   

Thought Questions: 

-       How important are the beatitudes in setting the stage for you to shine and make a difference? Which one will you focus on today?

-       Are you ready to accept that you are the reflection of Christ’s light in this world? How will your choices today bring glory to Him?

-       How are disciples to be more righteous than Pharisees? Will you determine today to check your heart and do things for the right reasons?