Some Afternoon Encouragement
If you are feeling poor, worn out, full of grief, weak, despairing at the state of the world, hungry for change, wishing you could make things better, and you are misunderstood and rejected today, Jesus says that you’re doing it right.
He says that the people who are sitting pretty, enjoying the rewards of a comfortable life now are already enjoying their passing rewards.
But you will hold heaven in your hands. You will be comforted. You will rule over the earth. You will be satisfied with what you see there. It’s abundance will be yours to enjoy. Your mistakes will be long forgotten and irrelevant. People will look at you and say, “look! There’s one of God’s children! Can’t you see the family resemblance?”
I know – trust me I know – that at the moment, Jesus’ words may feel empty and hollow. You may hear them and think, “sure, who I am going to believe? Jesus or my lying eyes?”
You may have given up a thousand times only to discover that there’s no way to actually quit. Life just keeps going like it always does. Even if you’ve said, “I can’t do this anymore” more times than you can count. Each day that passes is bringing you one day closer to the day when life is as it ought to be for you.
When life has beaten the ever-loving-crap out of you, Jesus says to take heart. You’re so much bigger and more important than you can see right now. You don’t even have to believe it for it to be true.
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying:“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
Pass It On!
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