“Be blessed.”
“I’m praying for good health.”
Have a wonderful day!” Greetings, blessings, and prayers for good health are a common occurrence and desire for most humans on this planet.
But God knows that we have greater need than present happiness.
Our greatest need in acquiring a deep fulfillment in this present day, this present life is . . . His presence.
Can we begin to live our life for an audience of one?
Is our main concern to find ourselves pleasing to the Lord?
What does that look like anyway?
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:7 that When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.
How do we get inner health, heart and mind, and become pleasing to the LORD?
What does He require? Is it to “be kind” each day? Can we “be honest” in all things? None of us can be Holy and perfect, apart from believing on the work of Jesus on the cross.
Where is our help? No one is perfect.
Jesus, who is perfect says to us weary and broken-hearted,
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:28,29.
Who doesn’t want rest for their souls?
Have we heard lies about “those Christians” and let our attitude about their faults and failures keep us from a community of faith that will prove to lift up our heavy laden hearts?
Jesus knows every person on the entire planet misses the mark. None of us can get it right! But when we check out the stories of Jesus with an opened Bible, we learn, . . . He is the only righteous One.
Jesus spoke on a hill one day, when a great crowd of people gathered in one place.
We might live in a day where, “What’s good is bad,” but Jesus has the Words of life. He speaks to the broken-hearted turning things around for good bringing hope in every situation.
I’m sure in this multitude of people gathered there were all kinds of “sin-full” people present. Jesus knew they were all “sin-full” people. (We’re all sin-full people.) But He loved each one and He spoke about a new attitude, (Matthew 5, Amplified),
“Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit[those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].
The poor in spirit are those who might be feeling they have failed.
But when one turns to Jesus, he, she’s forgiven, . . . he, she’s washed, . . . In Him, He makes all things new, 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us this,
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
In Him, In Jesus, we’re blessed. Why? The multitude all gathered together heard it from His very own voice,
“Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted] Matthew 5:4, AMP.
Why do we listen to lies that He’s going to take all the good stuff away? Who doesn’t want to be new? Who will reject being comforted?
Many do.
But those who have ears to hear, the Bible says over and over, “Let him hear,”
“Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5, AMP.
And there are more blessings.
“Who was this Man on the hill speaking to the multitudes?”
He’s Savior to those who believe. But today, we must check our heart, are we believing?
Here, in Matthew 5 He’s a great teacher. In many Bible stories, He’s healer. He fed thousands. Jesus was good, but,
He won’t become Savior until we invite him in, for salvation, one time, for guidance, every minute . . .
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John the Baptist proclaimed in John 1:29.
We all need washed. Only the blood of the Lamb cleanses.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from . . .
all sin 1 John 1:6,7.
John the Baptist prepared the people, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” in Matthew 3:2.
Has the kingdom of heaven come near? Right now?
“Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied” Matthew 5:6.
Satisfied, healthy, and joyful. Isn’t this the desire of our heart?
Jesus looks on us who turn to Him with grace and compassion. He is slow to anger. He is abounding in mercy:
“Blessed [content, sheltered by God’s promises] are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” Matthew 5: 7.
And Oh, how happy we can be in Him today.
“Jesus, we need You in our lives to direct and guide and keep us in Your way.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Ps.16:11), . . .
we believe in Jesus’ name. Amen”
Will we believe? Do we choose Jesus and abide in Him? What do you say?
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” John 15: 4,5.
