GPS Guide – March 19, 2019
PROSPERITY
Tuesday
Read: Luke 6:20-26
“20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” (NIV Luke 6:20-26)
Study: This pericope (a grouping of biblical verses) is commonly called the Beatitudes. When Jesus was telling the beatitudes to his disciples, he was going against the cultural norms. Just like today, their society told them that success, happiness, and stability come from being wealthy, attractive, or strong. Jesus pushed back against this by saying that it is the poor, the hungry, the weeping who are blessed. Jesus brings hope to those who have none. When we follow Christ, we are not signing up for riches or even better lives by our worldly standards. What Jesus promises is that we will have what we need. When we have what we need and follow Christ, our desires begin to shift away from those worldly things.
Pray: