As Labor Day approaches, most Americans prepare for a long weekend of rest, barbecues, and back-to-school sales. But beneath the surface of this secular celebration lies a profound question: Should Labor Day be a religious holiday? Could it be more than a civic nod to workers—perhaps a sacred moment to reflect on the divine dignity […]
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 5:10 When we think of blessings, we tend to imagine peace, comfort, and abundance. But Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes flips that idea completely upside down. He shows us that true blessing often comes in the midst of […]
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pronounced a series of blessing statements known as the beatitudes. The seventh of these seems straightforward, but leaves us asking the question, what, exactly, is a peacemaker? A peacemaker is not just someone who […]
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” — Matthew 5:8 This beatitude is one of the most profound and mysterious promises Jesus offers. It raises deep theological and existential questions: Is a pure heart even possible? Is purity the only way to see God? And what does it mean to “see” […]
When I read Matthew 5:7, I am perplexed. Jesus declares, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” I thought that the mercy that God showed to me was not dependent upon me being merciful to others. So I had to ask God to unpack this for me. Is this beatitude, nestled within […]
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” — Matthew 5:6 To hunger and thirst for righteousness is to crave—deeply and persistently—a life aligned with God’s will. Jesus uses visceral language here: hunger and thirst are primal, urgent needs. He’s not talking about a casual interest in being good; […]
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” — Matthew 5:5 This beatitude, nestled in the heart of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, has stirred centuries of reflection, debate, and even discomfort. In a world that celebrates dominance, ambition, and assertiveness, the idea that the meek — often misunderstood as weak or passive […]
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4 (NIV) At first glance, Jesus’ second beatitude seems like a contradiction. How can mourning—grief, sorrow, lament—be a blessing? In a world that avoids pain and idolizes happiness, Jesus’ words are radically countercultural. Yet within this paradox lies one of the most profound […]
In this era of political correctness and so-called religious tolerance we are led to believe that all religions lead to God and we often hear it said, “we are all children of God.” Unfortunately, this is not true. It is completely correct to say “we are all loved by God”. God “created us in His […]
Whether you believe it or not, your sin has condemned you to an eternal life separated from God. Whenever men and women turn their backs on God, evil fills the vacuum with hate, misery, pain, suffering, and alienation, supplanting love, joy, happiness, and belonging. Therefore, a wise person would recognize the importance of redemption. Redemption […]
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