Matthew 5:1-16
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad, because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavour, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people! You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.
People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honour to your Father in heaven
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
Who can you think of who is persecuting the church today? In what ways might you face persecution for your faith?
There are many governments and organisations around the world that are opposed to the Christian faith today. We might face persecution by our family or friends being intolerant to our faith in Christ. We might receive judgement and criticism at work or school from those who dislike religion or have had bad experiences with religion.
Jesus wants us to remember what the point of a light is. It’s not hard to understand. The point of a lamp is to shine. It makes no sense for us to try and hide our faith and our life in Jesus. We should find opportunities to bring the light that Jesus brings to people who are in dark places. What a privilege it is to shine a light for God!
PRAYERS
For those suffering persecution For opportunities to shine a light and help people glorify God
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