Jesus Was Blessed by God, and We Can Be, Too. Here’s How…

man in black long sleeved shirt and woman in black dress

#Blessed

I’m sure you’ve heard of “The Beatitudes” that Jesus spoke. The sermon on the mount is what most people initially think of when they picture Jesus preaching in their minds. They are wonderful teachings that instruct believers on how they should act in good times and bad. If you haven’t read them before, let’s read them now. 

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:2-12

In all of these verses, Jesus begins with “Blessed are…”. What does all this mean? How do we become those who are blessed? Let’s try to understand these on a deeper level by looking at Jesus, the one who gave us these teachings. 

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A Closer Look: Ruth, the Gentile Blessed By God

Ruth, Gentile, God, blessing, faith

In the Bible, the book of Ruth is one that’s often overlooked by many people. If you have read it, you know it’s not very long – having only four chapters and less than 90 verses. Yet it’s a story that is very significant for us today. Ruth was a woman of love, faithfulness, and obedience. Let’s take a closer look at her story and how we can still learn from it today.

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Do I Still Need to Read the Old Testament?

The Importance of History

Why do we learn history? Is it just to memorize names, dates, and important events? Is it just a class we are forced to take in school? Or is there a greater purpose to it? 

It is said that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. We can look at major eras throughout history and see where humanity has failed and where it has succeeded. A positive example we can look at is the stock market crash in the late 1920s and early 1930s. A large majority of people had not invested any of their money leading to the banks eventually failing, and people lost their entire life savings. The economy crashed and poverty rose.

Continue reading “Do I Still Need to Read the Old Testament?”