I've often heard that the sign of a good book or article is to see if the first part and the last part have matching concepts - like matching bookends. Last Thursday, I shared what that looks like with the 66 books of the Bible. There are many matching concepts between the first book, Genesis, and the last book, Revelation. If you have not seen it, it would be worth your next few minutes to check it out HERE.
We've spent months on Christ's Be-attitudes. Yet, they do not stop with BLESSED are the peacemakers. Some say there are 8 beatitudes. Others claim there are 9. I'd like to look at it as if 8 & 9 are separate, yet extensions of each other. But, before you read them and begin practicing your memory work for today, please note the matching of the rewards of the first beatitude and the last beatitudes that I have put in bold:
Matthew 5
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
As you and I allow Jesus to live in us, around us, and through us...
life will not always be easy!
In fact, it will be a:
As we begin practicing these new verses to add to the old, spend time considering how you are allowing Jesus to permeate your spiritual DNA. Our desire should be for our walk to become clearer to those around us (less fuzzy) that we are followers of Jesus Christ, Son of God, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
When that happens, our lives might just look like these verses describe:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.
~BLESSED~
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