Now We Begin
What is Jesus teaching you today?
Verse of the Day
‘One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.’
Today’s Devotional
We now dive into the first recorded teaching of Jesus, or at least the first teaching recorded in the book of Matthew. This section of Scripture is referred to as the Beatitudes. Let’s look at what Jesus says. The New Living Translation of these verses is very meaningful to me.
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3-10)
Do you realize your need for God? Are you acutely aware of how much you need God? Jesus is teaching me that there is a posture of the heart that God favors. It is the posture of absolute need for Him.
Let’s look at how the world’s message differs from what Jesus is teaching here.
Admired are those who are self-reliant and fully capable.
Respected are those who are strong and who don’t allow emotions to show, because emotions display weakness.
Favored are the proud.
Wealthy are those who strive for material success in all their endeavors.
Accepted are those who condemn and punish anyone who wrongs them.
Esteemed are those who are always on alert for anything that might get in the way of their plan.
Admired are the trailblazers who never allow any person to deter them from their goals.
Respected are those who always have a plan for both offense and defense in any endeavor.
Do you see the difference in what Jesus teaches versus what the world esteems? For today, I recognize that the posture of my heart can only be in a position that God favors when I am constantly aware of my need for God. It all starts there. My personal experience is that the journey to be able to recognize my need for God was a very painful one. I pray that others can come to this realization without such pain.
Today, I am sensing that God is inviting us to sit before Him and ask Him to show us the condition of our hearts. Lord, what part of my heart still conforms to this world? What part of my thinking is not aligned with your Truth? Father, will you show me what parts of my heart I have not yet turned over to you fully?
I have full confidence that He will answer these prayers.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What is Jesus teaching you today?
Which messages of the world still ring true for you?
Ask God these questions:
Lord, what part of my heart still conforms to this world?
What part of my thinking is not aligned with your Truth?
Father, will you show me what parts of my heart I have not yet turned over to you fully?