What comes to mind as you read Jesus’s words, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)? Truth be told, we may get a false first impression. We may think, Blessed are the weak for they shall become doormats.
Read MoreTag Archives: Matthew
A Promise for ”Those Who Mourn”
I remember an incident many years ago when a man in our church fell while taking a shower. As he slipped on the slick floor, he fell against a sheet of glass with all his weight.
Read MoreA Promise for ”The Poor in Spirit”
At first glance, Jesus’s reference to “the poor in spirit” seems to refer to those who have little or no money—people of poverty with zero financial security. Wrong. You’ll note He speaks of being “poor in spirit.”
Read MoreThe Beatitudes: Three Observations
The introduction to Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount is no doubt the most familiar section of His message (Matthew 5:1–12). Commonly called “The Beatitudes,” this section is the most descriptive word-portrait of a servant ever recorded.
Read MoreJesus’ Command: ”Be Different!”
When Jesus walked the earth, He attracted a number of people to Himself. On one occasion, He sat down among them and taught them some bottom-line truths about how He wanted them to grow up.
Read MoreWhen You Grow Up
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That’s a favorite question we enjoy asking children. And the answers we get usually are “a police officer” or “a nurse” or maybe “a fire fighter.” Some kids are visionary.
Read MoreCan We Really Ever Forget?
A question flashes through my head as I write these words: can our minds actually allow us to forget? The way God has made us with that internal filing system we call “memory”—it is doubtful we can fully forget.
Read MoreWhen You Are the Offended, Part 2
Yesterday we read Jesus’s parable of the king who forgave his servant—who then refused to forgive a fellow-servant. From this parable, we learned that to refuse to forgive is hypocritical. But there’s a second lesson.
Read MoreWhen You Are the Offended, Part 1
Over the past few days, we have examined Jesus’s words to us when we have offended someone. Tough steps . . . yet essential. But what about when someone offends us? The apostle Peter asked Jesus a similar question.
Read MoreWhen You Are the Offender, Part 2
Let’s say you’ve mustered the courage to approach someone you’ve offended. You’ve confessed what you did with sincerity. You’ve asked for forgiveness. But he or she refuses to forgive you. Now what?
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