Today’s Walk in the Word

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.                        —Matthew 5:9 Some repairs can be made with needle and thread. Some repairs can be made with hammer and saw. And some repairs can only be made with friendly smiles, tactful words, […]

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.     —Matthew 5:8 “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Ps 24:3–4). We know ourselves too well to claim perfect purity of heart: “I have the […]

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.             —Matthew 5:7 Awareness of God’s mercy to us motivates us to be merciful to others. “When you were dead in your sins . . . God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins . . […]

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.    —Matthew 5:6 Self-evaluation is challenging. Check the beatitude boxes: Are you poor in spirit? Do you mourn over your sins? Are you meek? Merciful? Pure in heart? A peacemaker? The fourth beatitude—hungering and thirsting for righteousness—is a solid foundation on […]

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.            —Matthew 5:5 This blessedness doesn’t come from thinking something, saying something, or doing something—but from being something. Meekness is not something we’re born with but a disposition we develop. In his early manhood, Moses came upon a scene that infuriated […]

Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.            —Matthew 5:4 Jesus isn’t speaking of those who mourn the loss of a loved one or friend, but of those who mourn over their sins: it isn’t the sorrow of bereavement but the sorrow of sinfulness. Our sins took the […]

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                  —Matthew 5:3 Blessedness is possessed by neither rich nor poor unless they are rich in faith and poor in spirit. Jesus eliminated self-sufficiency with three words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” It isn’t […]

[Jesus] began to teach them. —Matthew 5:2 Eight of the world’s beatitudes of winners: Blessed are the rich. Blessed are the powerful. Blessed are the popular. Blessed are the connected. Blessed are the talented. Blessed are the beautiful. Blessed are the successful. Blessed are the elite. The eight beatitudes with which Jesus began his Sermon […]

Do this in remembrance of me.        —1 Corinthians 11:24 There’s a boutique in my neighborhood called Things Remembered that sells unique items and engraves them to commemorate special occasions—one-of-a-kind gifts that are treasured by those who receive them. Things remembered keep us connected to people, places, and times that have influenced and […]

Restore to me the joy of your salvation.                            —Psalm 51:12 I could be happy if only . . . If only I had more money. If only I were better looking. If only I had a better job. I don’t need to […]