Today’s Scripture Reading

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.

MAT.5.3-12

Today’s Devotional Reading

How Can Anyone Live Up to These High Standards?

Even though the Sermon on the Mount has been called the constitution for citizens of God’s kingdom, we won’t see flawed human beings reach this level of perfection in this life. Jesus began the Beatitudes with our inability in mind: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (v. 3). Those acknowledging their spiritual poverty are in the best position to experience God’s blessing and enjoy his kingdom.

Our salvation and hope for heaven are rooted firmly in the grace of God (Eph 2:8). Nevertheless, God’s grace will produce positive, tangible changes in our lives. Even when our attempts result in failure, we’re to keep trying and trusting. The Beatitudes are an ethical model that requires a declaration of dependence on God.

The Beatitudes describe the life of blessing God intended for humanity from the beginning. The closer we come to Jesus’ standards, the more we experience the blessing of God.

Today’s devotional reading is pulled from: NIV Quest Study Bible