DAY 5: February 22,
2021 Monday
of Lent 1- Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 5:3
Jesus will begin His sermon on the mount declaring nine times that His disciples are blessed. They are blessed because of what He has done for them. These beatitudes are not demands Jesus is foisting upon you. Rather, this is your new reality in Christ. These are the gifts which the Savior bestows. These beatitudes are not prescriptive – steps and demands you must accomplish, they are descriptive. This is your truth as you await the new heaven and new earth. (See Revelation 21:1)
The beatitudes are found throughout the Scriptures in such places as Psalm 1:1; Luke 11:28; Revelation 19:9.
In Lent we lay bare our sin, our imperfections, our weaknesses. We come to the Lord, not only confessing our sin but realizing our own inadequacies.
The spiritually poor – those persons who acknowledge their moral bankruptcy theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is yours. Not what you strive to accomplish but by the gift which is given to you by faith. Even now, by faith, you receive this gift. This reward is repeated also in v 10.
Blessed are they, the poor in spirit
Theirs is the kingdom of God.
Rejoice and be glad!
Blessed are you, holy are you.
Rejoice and be glad!
Yours is the kingdom of God.[2]
Lord Jesus, prepare us for that eternal Sabbath when You will rest in us, just as now You work in us. The rest that we shall enjoy will be Yours, just as the work that we now do is Your work done through us. But You, O Lord, are eternally at work and eternally at rest. It is not time that You see or in time that You move or in time that You rest, yet You make what we see in time. You make time itself and the repose which comes when time ceases; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[3]
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us Your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of Your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.[4]
Jesus will begin His sermon on the mount declaring nine times that His disciples are blessed. They are blessed because of what He has done for them. These beatitudes are not demands Jesus is foisting upon you. Rather, this is your new reality in Christ. These are the gifts which the Savior bestows. These beatitudes are not prescriptive – steps and demands you must accomplish, they are descriptive. This is your truth as you await the new heaven and new earth. (See Revelation 21:1)
The beatitudes are found throughout the Scriptures in such places as Psalm 1:1; Luke 11:28; Revelation 19:9.
In Lent we lay bare our sin, our imperfections, our weaknesses. We come to the Lord, not only confessing our sin but realizing our own inadequacies.
The spiritually poor – those persons who acknowledge their moral bankruptcy theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is yours. Not what you strive to accomplish but by the gift which is given to you by faith. Even now, by faith, you receive this gift. This reward is repeated also in v 10.
Blessed are they, the poor in spirit
Theirs is the kingdom of God.
Rejoice and be glad!
Blessed are you, holy are you.
Rejoice and be glad!
Yours is the kingdom of God.[2]
Lord Jesus, prepare us for that eternal Sabbath when You will rest in us, just as now You work in us. The rest that we shall enjoy will be Yours, just as the work that we now do is Your work done through us. But You, O Lord, are eternally at work and eternally at rest. It is not time that You see or in time that You move or in time that You rest, yet You make what we see in time. You make time itself and the repose which comes when time ceases; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[3]
Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully increase in us Your gifts of holy discipline, in almsgiving, prayer and fasting; that our lives may be directed to the fulfilling of Your most gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.[4]
[1] Lift High
the Cross copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things
[2] Blessed are
They Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect
for Monday of Lent 1 Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House,
St. Louis
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