Sunday January 29th, 2017 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Matthew 5:1-12
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (verse 5)
We live in a competitive world with a “be first/me first” attitude as the norm. People even compete for love on television shows like The Bachelor.
If we believe what we read and hear in the media and other sources, we will believe that the only way we will prove ourselves worthy is to constantly scramble to reach the top of the heap. Unfortunately, we soon discover that the climb never ends. There is always something or someone to push us backwards again.
It’s an exhausting way to live.
How happy we can be that God doesn’t ask that from any of us. In fact, God’s got a whole different idea about the way we are to live. Imagine how different life would be if, instead of trying to make the long, weary climb to the top day after day, we strove to be people of meekness, seeking peace and showing mercy? When we live this way, even persecution can become a blessing.
There is one love-an everlasting love-that we never have to compete for: God’s love is vast enough to cover the entire world and it is simply there for the taking.
God, help us to know that when we accept your love, we have already won the ultimate prize. Amen. — DLG
Contributed by In It To Win It
We live in a competitive world with a "be first/me first" attitude as the norm. People even compete for love on television shows like The Bachelor.
If we believe what we read and hear in the media and other sources, we will believe that the only way we will prove ourselves worthy is to constantly scramble to reach the top of the heap. Unfortunately, we soon discover that the climb never ends. There is always something or someone to push us backwards again.
It's an exhausting way to live.
How happy we can be that God doesn't ask that from any of us. In fact, God's got a whole different idea about the way we are to live. Imagine how different life would be if, instead of trying to make the long, weary climb to the top day after day, we strove to be people of meekness, seeking peace and showing mercy? When we live this way, even persecution can become a blessing.
There is one love-an everlasting love-that we never have to compete for: God's love is vast enough to cover the entire world and it is simply there for the taking.
