Devotion:
Read Matthew 5:1-4.
This week we will be focusing on the first part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and the ten verses known as the Beatitudes. The word “blessed” was often associated with those who were wealthy and had all the comforts of life. So Jesus turns this understanding of being blessed upside down with these verses.
How can I be fortunate or blessed if I am poor in spirit (or simply poor, as Luke has it in his version of this teaching)? If I am poor in spirit, I realize I have absolutely nothing on my own; and that naturally leads me to a deep dependency on something greater than me. Christians who travel from our comfortable surroundings to poverty-stricken countries like South Sudan are often struck by the depth of faith of Christians there. When they pray for their daily bread, they are literally asking God for enough food for that day. And when there is food, they are quick to give thanks to God. They sense their utter dependence upon God, and they are blessed.
When Jesus says those who mourn are blessed, he may be saying that mourning helps us to see the love and care of other people and to sense God’s presence. I have indeed grown closer to God during times of mourning for loved ones. But more likely, Jesus is saying that we are blessed when we are aware of our sinfulness and mourn for our inability to save ourselves, causing us to turn to God. We are blessed by our close, personal relationship with God.
Personal Worship Option:
Think for a few minutes about what causes you to feel blessed. We often think of material things and comforts of life as blessings, and they are to some extent. Reflect on how today’s passage might help you to seek and understand being blessed in other ways.
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