Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.—Matthew 5:3 The Bible presents many paradoxes that challenge our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit. Self-reliance robs …
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.—Matthew 6:10 In heaven, God’s will is the only priority. A word from God brings angels to do His bidding, immediately and without question. Jesus instructed us to pray that God would accomplish His will in our …
Your name be honored as holy.—Matthew 6:9b Our calling as Christians is to bring glory to the name of God. God’s name represents His character. Taking the name of God in vain misrepresents God’s character to others (Exod. 20:7). As Christians, we carry the name of our Savior. The way …
—that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a …
What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?—Romans 6:1–2 A Christian has died to sin. Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, …
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.—Ephesians 4:32 The Book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed …
But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.—2 Corinthians 2:14–15 Whenever the …
For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.—Galatians 1:10 At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing God and …
“Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something?I will return it to you.” “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, …
Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.—Matthew 5:5 In popular thinking the term meek implies weakness. The word Jesus used had a different meaning. His picture of meekness is that of a stallion that has been brought into subjection to its master. Whereas it once fought against …
