Reading With the People of God #11 Blessedනියැදිය

Focus of the month: (The Beatitudes)

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

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

- Matthew 5:3-12

A Heart Condition

I am at a stage in my life where the world around me, with good intentions, encourages me to focus on the health of my heart and my mind. It encourages me to eat the right foods, get regular exercise, and stimulate my mind in order to keep it all working well.

When I read the Bible I also see that God is very interested in my heart as well. The heart of a person, in this sense, is not what pumps blood to our body. It is more like, to use an example from the computer world, the “Operating System” from which we live. Some have described it as our ego. It impacts our words, thoughts, actions, convictions, desires and loves. It is who we are on the inside.

In the Bible, you will find approximately 862 references to the “heart,” depending on the translation that you read. Most of which to that ego, the internal part of us. This has always been most important to God. Who we are on the inside!

So as you read today, think deeply about the people you encounter and the conditions of their hearts. Remember that a “pure heart” only comes from Jesus, but we are also told to exercise and properly feed our hearts with good things. The Scriptures tell us to “set our hearts on things above” (Col 3:1 NIV) and that the condition of our hearts will impact the things that we say and do. The condition of our hearts is a big deal!

What is the condition of your heart today?

* Devotional primer contributed by Steve Moody