Gracious God of love and mercy, empower this dear reader with Your strength to do Your will in the needs of his/her life; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is our text for today: Matthew 5: 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Are you mountain grown? Can you say you have your roots in the mountain? Mountain grown people, spiritually speaking, are those who know and live the principles and promises taught by Jesus from His famous Sermon on the Mount. We're calling it A Bolder Life. Those who know what Jesus meant and expects, live their lives in what the world will perceive as a bolder life. This week we'll look at that section known as The Beatitudes. Robert Schuller wrote a book called, "The Be Attitudes," in which he said that the person who follows these will have a more positive attitude towards being and towards life. There is some truth to that and we'll explore that this week.
The starting point is the one where we all find ourselves at one time or another and that is being "poor in spirit." We have all felt discouragement, rejection, hurt, anger, loss, sadness, helpless, and even hopeless. Regardless of the cause, we found ourselves in a poor place spiritually speaking. It's a sad place to be because many think, "This is as low as I can go." And while it may be true, it is not a place where we stay or live. Jesus catches our attention by saying it is a blessing to be spiritually poor. Huh? What Jesus is saying is that we need to realize that any low place we may find ourselves is not our dwelling place. It may be a "valley stop" between mountain tops. The point is that we are on a journey, steadily, surely, walking, moving from one place to a greater place. Jesus says that our blessing is that we are to receive the "kingdom of heaven." Who doesn't want that? The place where God's will is done (re-say the Lord's Prayer and see what Jesus meant about God's will and plan for our lives!), and people are blessed.
Think about this: No matter how low you think you have gotten, you are not to stay there. Yours is a journey and a journey upward and onward. Claim for your life what Jesus promised, that you and I are journeying towards that place where God is and where God's will is done for your life and mine.
PRAYER: Loving God, Your will be done in my life today. Father, you know that sometimes I find myself in those low places of faith and doubt, and I ask You not leave my side. Take me by the hand and lead me on. Help me to walk steadily, surely away from the low place into Your place. I ask that I might also serve as a guide to someone today, so that they too not stay where they are. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
Prayer Request for our sister in Christ, Helen Hicks. I visited with her yesterday afternoon after word was shared with family she might not last the hour. I prayed with her and her family and I ask you keep them in your prayers. Death has visited them several times in direct and indirect ways during the last couple of weeks and they need the Lord's strength. Also, First UMC's website has undergone a transformation and our calendar for the month's activities are posted there for your information as are the last three Sundays' sermons by yours truly. You can visit us at www dot fumc dot tv.
