Blessed to be a Blessing: Beatitudes

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ~ Matthew 5:10-15
Do you remember back to the first time you heard these famous word's of Jesus?

 Did it sound like the "you" here is blessed?

 And yet, according to Jesus, "you" are.

 You who are persecuted are blessed.

 You are the salt of the earth. The light of the world.

 What would it be like if with each person we met, these words of Jesus' rang in our ears?

 What if we became part of the blessing that God bestows on them?

 And then we become part of that blessing as well.

Lord, help me to take the many blessings I have from you and share them with others for the ongoing blessing of your entire creation. Amen

Thoughts for engagement:

- Who do you know who is genuinely persecuted? As in sufferingly so?
- What are the ways we bless and don't bless those who are persecuted?

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