INTRODUCTION

Part 1) Imitate: Be Imitators of Christ

Imitating Jesus is the beginning of Christian discipleship and a joyful, lifelong pursuit

Journal

• Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
• Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
• Recall a significant reaction, conversation, or event.
• List out all that you are grateful for.

 Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

• How to journal? 
• What am I feeling?

Bible Text

Matthew 5:1-16

¹ Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

² And 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.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Context & Commentary

Matthew 5-7 is called the Sermon on the Mount and is Jesus’ longest recorded message. The opening verses, 5:3-11, are called the Beatitudes.

“More than simply a formal literary introduction, the Beatitudes summarize the essence of the sermon’s message, giving in a nutshell the way in which the kingdom makes its impact on the lives of those who respond to it. The character of this kingdom life contravenes the values that most people hold dear, because God’s blessing rests on the unlikely ones–the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek, the persecuted. ‘Thus the Beatitudes outline an upside down reality, or– more precisely–they define reality in such a way that the usual order of things is seen to be upside down in the eyes of God.’”

v.3 “The ‘poor’ are those who have encountered unfortunate circumstances from an economic point of view, but also persons who are spiritually and emotionally oppressed, disillusioned, and in need of God’s help.”

Wilkins, Michael J. “Matthew 5:3-12” in NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

Questions

1. Consider all that Jesus calls blessed. How does Jesus’ picture of a blessed life compare with what the world considers a blessed life?
2. What are ways I’ve personally experienced or witnessed the paradoxical truths of a blessed life? How can I more fully live out one or more of these Beatitudes this week?
3. Living out verses 3-12 naturally leads to v.16 – “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” How has this been true in my life or in other Christians’ lives?     

Prayer