Daily Reading // Matthew 5-7
(Find the daily reading on Pastor Jim’s Blog)
https://jholm5.wixsite.com/pastor-jim-blog
S // SCRIPTURE
Select a verse from today’s reading
Matthew 5:11 (NKJV) “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.”
O // OBSERVATION
Why did this verse get your attention? Make a simple observation from the text
Jesus said it is a blessing when people speak evil against you falsely. But it generally doesn’t feel that way.
We live in a time of name-calling and speaking evil toward others. It has always been true (even in Jesus’ day). I think today the shaming and name-calling is louder because there are more platforms to magnify the voices. In the past the news media, Facebook, Twitter and the internet didn’t exist to elevate name-calling to such a deafening level.
Even so, this truth still remains. This is what caught my attention today: When someone reviles you their intention is to curse you. That’s why we call it ‘cursing’. It is not to bless you.
Yet Jesus says He will frustrate their intention and turn it around. Instead of cursing you they will unknowingly be blessing you. Well, when you think of it that way, there’s a whole lot of blessing going on today!
A // APPLICATION
How can I apply this to my life today?
First of all, I do not want to be one of those people who speaks evil of others. The context makes it clear here that when I do that I put myself in opposition to Jesus. I don’t want to do that.
Also, I have got to trust Jesus’ power to bless is greater than my enemies power to curse. When Balaam tried to curse the children of Israel God turned it into a blessing. When Shimei cursed David as he was leaving Jerusalem God used it for good.
Don’t be upset by falsehoods and evil speaking. God’s got it covered.
In the immortal words of the ancient proverb:
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But words will never hurt me
P // PRAYER
Express yourself in prayer
Jesus, I trust Your word. Turn every curse of the enemy into good for the glory of Your Kingdom. Amen.
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