Focus
Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for a peace at this time.
Read
Luke 11:24-28 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
Reflect
What does true blessedness look like? It is so easy to look around us and mentally select those we believe to be blessed—that person who has a well-paying “cushy” job, the couple with the beautiful, highly motivated and amazingly well-behaved children, the family with the big, stylish home, the people traveling to exotic locations for perfect vacations.
Social media has put plenty of successful, happy looking people out there for us to admire and envy. Some of them are even showing us pictures of their dinner plate so we can see how great they are eating these days! But earthly good fortune and happiness are not the same as spiritual blessings. Jesus presented a clear and to-the-point description of those who are truly blessed—those who hear the word of God and obey it. The happiness of living within God’s will– wonder how that looks on Facebook?
Pray
Dear Lord, help us remember today and every day the blessings you have so richly poured out, especially the blessing of your son, Jesus. Let us never confuse luxury or wealth or indulgence with the true blessing of our lives—a loving relationship with our creator. Help us to obey your word in our lives and to demonstrate to others through our actions what it means to be a follower of God. Humbly we ask it in Jesus’ name,
Amen
Go with God!
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