Tag Archives: Inside

Youโ€™re Blessed

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Matthew 5:1-12ย The Message

Youโ€™re Blessed

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when youโ€™re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when you feel youโ€™ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when youโ€™re content with just who you areโ€”no more, no less. Thatโ€™s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that canโ€™t be bought.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when youโ€™ve worked up a good appetite for God. Heโ€™s food and drink in the best meal youโ€™ll ever eat.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when you care. At the moment of being โ€˜care-full,โ€™ you find yourselves cared for.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when you get your inside worldโ€”your mind and heartโ€”put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. Thatโ€™s when you discover who you really are, and your place in Godโ€™s family.

โ€œYouโ€™re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into Godโ€™s kingdom.

โ€œNot only thatโ€”count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happensโ€”give a cheer, even!โ€”for though they donโ€™t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”

Your Essential Worship

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Romans 12:1-2ย The Voice

Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about Godโ€™s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.

Paul urges those who read and hear his letter to respond to the good news by offering their bodiesโ€”eyes, ears, mouths, hands, feetโ€”to God as a โ€œliving sacrifice.โ€ Paul knows well enough that sacrifices end in death, not life. But the sacrifice of Jesus changes everything. His resurrection steals life from death and makes it possible for those who trust in Him to become a sacrifice and yet live. But how do we live? We do not live as before, wrapping ourselves in the world and its bankrupt values. We live in constant renewal and transformation of our minds.