Matthew 5:1-12

Thoughts:  Can you imagine going to college, but instead of attending a formal classroom, you follow your teacher from town to town, learning from His words and examples? Our "class" today occurs on a mountain. Jesus sat on the mountainside, and His disciples came and sat around Him. While the birds sang, and the wind rustled in nearby trees, Jesus' precious words poured from His mouth--words that certainly proclaimed an entirely new way of thinking to these disciples.Though we are familiar with the beatitudes, it would be good for us to take some time to ponder in a greater depth, their meaning and their implications to us, as believers in this 21st century. Like the disciples' time, we live in an age where people are greedy, riches are everything, and self-advancement is the "common" attitude among all people. As believers, how are we to think? Are the words of Christ still applicable to us today? Yes! Just as when He originally spoke these words, Jesus is speaking to believers of our day as well, saying that riches are not blessings. Being famous, or popular, or well known is not to be our goal. Rather, let us seek the things of Christ.
Discussion: Which of the Beatitudes do you connect with or identify most, either because you embrace it or struggle to? How can you improve to embrace these in your daily life? Would it be difficult or hard?
Activity:  Trying to take them all on at once can be overwhelming, choose one specifically to embrace to the fullest and live to the highest level this week!

Devotional Thoughts from https://www.devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com