One of my struggles is reading the Bible. Don't get me wrong I do read my Bible but I find I have a hard time meditating on it and understanding it. I tend to read it and hope it sinks in somewhere. So I have been working on the meditation and understanding part, and it just happens that our pastor started preaching a series on reading, meditating and acting on what we have learned. He also has introduced a Bible study called Reading the Red, (reading the words that Jesus spoke) and made up bookmarks with the days to read which scriptures. I think it is a great idea, seeing what was most important to Jesus, in his words. And it also gives me a place to start, instead of running from one chapter to another.
So yesterday's scripture reading was The Beatitudes Matt 5, and I just happened to read about that the night before in the book Pure Joy. R.T. Kendall talks about how blessed could also be interpreted as the word congratulations. "God congratulates those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." Why would God congratulate those who are poor, those who mourn, etc.... because they have overcome and dignified the trials here on earth. They weren't handed everything on a silver platter, they had to put their trust in God. They had to work through, the trials and tribulations, the testing and disciplining, the pain and suffering, that God had allowed into their lives for whatever reason. But they knew that God had allowed it, and their reward was waiting for them in heaven. So everything we go through here on earth, we need to thank God for allowing it in our lives, instead of grumbling and complaining, because it will be well worth the pain when we get to see Jesus face to face in Heaven.
Matthew 5
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
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Hi Raema:
Just reading your blog. It is funny I am studying Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore, which is exploring the fruit of the Spirit. This week it is on joy! The Greek word for joy is chara which means joy, rejoicing, gladness- enjoyment, bliss. In many ways chara means celebrate.
In Luke 10: 17-20 it says The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and sorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that te spirts submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
So, I rejoice that our names are written in heaven. Sometimes I think that we may have greater joy that the enemy has to submit to us in the name of Jesus. Do we have this backwards? Our orgin of our joy is our salvation.
You don't have to post this.
Love you, mom
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