The celebration of Jesus’ resurrection has been noted – alleluias resounded in thousands upon thousands of churches around the world. Let’s raise a few more alleluias throughout the week for the various blessings that we enjoy in light of Jesus’ death and resurrection for us.

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

One great outcome of Jesus’ resurrection is that the ‘poor in spirit’ inherit the kingdom of heaven. ‘Poor’ here reflects those who are aware of their need for God’s mercy toward them – in other words, they are humble before God because of their sin. Because Jesus died for our sins and rose again, heaven has been opened all who confess their sins and believe that Jesus is Lord. Let your ‘poor’ spirit sing alleluia…

Invoking God onto our Week

We step into this week singing alleluia to You, Father, who has displayed his heart full of mercy;

We sing alleluia to You, Jesus, who has opened the kingdom of Heaven to all who believe;

We sing alleluia to You, Spirit, as you bless our poor spirits to thrive under the grace of God our Father;

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Luke 24:13-35

As the two disciples approached the village to which they were going, Jesus (still unrevealed to them) continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks (blessing it), broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

What jumps out at you from this Bible reading? Ask God why…

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Hungry

Joy Williams

Hungry I come to you
for I know you satisfy.
I am empty but I know
Your love does not dry
So I wait for you, I wait for you

How sad would it be to hunger and thirst for the holiness of God, for His righteousness, yet not be able to taste. Because of Jesus, those who thirst for God find satisfaction through Jesus. Through Jesus, God gives a righteousness that comes by faith. It exists precisely because we cannot gain a righteousness of our own through doing right things. Only through the death of Jesus can the blessing of righteousness come to us. The resurrection proves that this righteousness is real. Let the spiritually-filled sing alleluia…

Remember: Take five to ten minutes a day to stop and listen, to connect with God in music. Let the Holy Spirit use it to feed your soul.

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

There are many kinds of peace: Peace with God, peace with yourself, and peace with others. Peace with others is hard to come by when conflicted with either oneself or God. God says that we have peace with Him through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Knowing that God accepts us through Jesus helps us accept and even forgive ourselves. This in turn helps us better forgive others with whom we struggle. In doing so, we reflect the nature of our Heavenly Father, identifying ourselves to be sons and daughters of God. This is one grateful son-of-the-One here singing alleluia to the Lord…

Micro Groups (2-3)

In becoming a Cultivator of Godly Relationships, you become intentional about three things:

• Being connected to someone else (of your choosing),
• Being in God’s Word regularly, and
• Being prayerful about others.

I thank you Father God that I can be certain of peace with you through Jesus Christ my Lord; help me learn to forgive myself as you have forgiven me – and to be at peace with myself; help me to exhibit a heart to forgive others as you exhibit a heart to forgive others --- and seek peace with them. I want to reflect my new nature, my new life, my relationship to you, my Heavenly Father; in Jesus’ name I pray, 

Amen

Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

The great promise here is that we can bank on God being merciful to us – not giving us sinners what we deserve (death Rom. 6:23). Now understand that being kind and merciful to our neighbor does not wipe away our sins – nor does it earn points with God. BUT, thanks to Jesus paying for our sins, we know that, as we’re merciful to others, God treats us mercifully as well – in the name of Jesus. No promises for those who choose not to be merciful… Choose to be a merciful person, and sing alleluia for God’s mercy.

To bless someone means to offer happiness or praise to them. When you say "Blessed are you, O Lord," you are not only expressing gratitude, but you are saying, "I want to make you happy and praise you, God, with my gratitude for what you have done." It's a subtle reminder that gratitude is good for both the person expressing it and the one receiving it.

-- Soul Keeping, John Ortberg, page 175

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Psalm 24:4 recounts who can approach the throne of God, describing that person as needing clean hands and a pure heart. This would be none of us unless Jesus cleansed us from sin and purified us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Only by grace through Jesus can we ‘see’ God. He hears and answers our prayers in the name of Jesus, and by his blood we enter into the presence of God. Is that not a blessing or what!?! So, enter into God’s presence right now and let your purified heart sing alleluia…

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

This beatitude echoes an attitude about our sinfulness. It makes sense that mourners be comforted – whatever they are grieving over. The good news here is that, for those who grieve over their sinful struggles, there is comfort to be had in God. Why? Because God promises that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Let your grieving-yet-comforted spirit sing alleluia!