EXCERPTS

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7).

I told a friend recently that I’m a recovering Type-A. What I mean by this is that compassion is not my natural default! I’m visionary, motivated, task-oriented, and determined… but I’m not naturally sensitive and caring. When that shows up inside me, I know that God is in the house!

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).

Jesus seems to have the habit of surprising us. We crave one thing, and He comes along and says, “No, no; don’t crave that. Let Me show you what to crave because this will bring the satisfaction you are looking for.” This idea catches us off guard: we are more accustomed to spiritual darkness than light.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

The Man who conquered death describes Himself as “meek.” We simply are not accustomed to thinking of meekness as a virtue, much less that it is associated with spiritual power.