28 Feb, 2011
The KING of KINGS Speech
As I type this DailyBide, the Oscars are going on in Los Angeles. The speculation is coming to an end as the winners are announced and they come forward to make their acceptance speeches. The quest for fame and fortune is on. One winner was The King's Speech. While there may have been some great acceptance speeches throughout the night, let's pause today and take look at another speech, this one given by the KING of KINGS, Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount.
Photo courtesy of images.google.com.
Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)
The Sermon on the Mount
1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
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.
What does God's Story teach us about Jesus "Speech"?The Sermon on the Mount
1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
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.
Check out what the Life Application Study Bible has to say about the beginning of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount ...
Enormous crowds were following Jesus-he was the talk of the town, and everyone wanted to see him. The disciples, who were the closest associates of this popular man, were certainly tempted to feel important, proud, and possessive. Being with Jesus gave them not only prestige but also opportunity for receiving money and power.
The crowds were gathering once again. But before speaking to them, Jesus pulled his disiples aside and warned them about the temptations they would face as his associates. Don't expect fame and fortune, Jesus was saying, but mourning, hunger, and persecution. Nevertheless, Jesus assured his disciples that they would be rewarded-but perhaps not in this life. There may be times when following Jesus will bring us great popularity. If we don't live by Jesus' words in this sermon, we will find ourselves using God's message only to promote our personal interests.
What a different perspective than that of Hollywood today!
How can I connect today's God's Story scripture to My Life?
- Set aside some time this week to read the rest of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.
- As you read Jesus' "speech," record the ways you are challenged in a journal or in the margin of your Bible.
- Do you struggle with a desire to have fame and fortune? Confess that desire to God and ask Him to replace it with a desire to know Him more.
How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
- Take the challenge to read the rest of Jesus' sermon and do it with a friend.
- Set aside some time to get together to talk about what God is teaching both of you through His Story.
- As you read, ask God to place friends on your heart who might need to hear specific parts of Jesus' message in the Sermon on the Mount. Pray for those friends when God lays them on your heart. Write their names in the margin of your Bible as a reminder to pray for them.
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