LOVE THE LORD... WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY....

J.O.Y.

Jesus loves you and me and we love Jesus. Now, how do You and I live to show Him our love for Him?  Today let's listen to Him and consider how He says we should live.  The first part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has 27 marks of:

• THE BLESSED LIFE
• THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
• THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
• THE LIFE OF LOVE

Instead of numbering the verses of Matthew chapter 5, I'll number those "27 marks" for us to consider.  The italicized words are scripture; the non-italicized words summarize the longer thought in scripture.

The Sermon on the Mount:

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

1.  Blessed are the poor in spirit ...
2.  Blessed are those who mourn...
3.  Blessed are the gentle (meek)... 
4.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... 
5.  Blessed are the merciful...
6.  Blessed are the pure in heart ...
7.  Blessed are the peacemakers...
8.  Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness... 
9. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you...Rejoice and be glad...
10. You are the salt of the earth... 
11. You are the light of the world... 
12. Your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees...
13. You are devoid of anger with brothers/sisters:  ...who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court;
14. You use no contemptious words:  "...whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
15. You do not allow a brother or sister to hold anything against you:  First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering...
16. You have the spirit of quick agreement:  Make friends quickly with your opponent... 
17. You have no inward lustful thinking: ...everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell...
18. You have right relations with your spouse:   It was said, ‘WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
19. You are relentless about anything that offends against the LORD:  Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’ But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
20. You have truth in speech and attitude:  But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.
21. You turn the other cheek:  You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
22. You give your cloak also:  If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
23. You go the second mile:  Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
24. You give to those who ask of you:  Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
25. You love your enemies:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and...
26. You pray for those who persecute you:  ... pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
27. You are to be perfect (mature), as your heavenly Father is perfect (mature).

I invite you back here each day, through the month of February, to learn more about how to love yourself enough to do it Jesus' way!

~Oh, the J.O.Y!~