Today’s Walk in the Word

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.                     —Matthew 5:9 A peacemaker is, first of all, one who refuses to be a disrupter of peace. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph […]

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.    —Matthew 5:8 “Who may stand in [God’s] holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps 24:3, 4). Jesus said, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a […]

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.              —Matthew 5:7 Viewing someone with disapproval and thinking, “If I were you, I would [do such and such].” No! If I were you, I would feel and act exactly as you are feeling and acting. Being merciful is changing […]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.    —Matthew 5:6 We pursue happiness, and it eludes us, for happiness is not found by striving for it directly but as a byproduct of seeking something else. Jesus said it comes from seeking righteousness. The blessedness of this beatitude doesn’t […]

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.            —Matthew 5:5  In some versions, “The meek” is translated “the humble” or “those of gentle spirit.” In a world of too much “It’s-all-about-me” aggressiveness, “Blessed are the meek” comes across as weak. However, it is the opposite of weakness. It […]

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.            —Matthew 5:4 The promised comfort of this beatitude doesn’t relate to mourning the loss of a loved one but to mourning the loss of innocence and self-respect because of sin. It is the second stage of spiritual blessing: from acknowledging […]

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                   —Matthew 5:3 Tevye, in Fiddler on the Roof, said, “It’s no shame to be poor . . . but it’s no great honor either.” Financial poverty isn’t proof of poverty of spirit, nor […]

His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.          —Matthew 5:1–2 Jesus pinpointed eight character traits and said, “Blessed” are those who have them. Some translations say “Happy” rather than “Blessed.” Barclay notes that in Aramaic, the language in which Jesus spoke the beatitudes, the word “Blessed” was an […]

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.                          —John 15:13 Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. These well-known words first appeared in Anna Warner’s novel Day and Seal in […]

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.                 —Psalm 115:3 Are you spiritually nearsighted? Has your short-term view blurred your long-term vision? God says he is in control. Some Christians seem to doubt that. “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. . . […]