GOD Morning! Matthew 5:1-16

GOD Morning! Matthew 5:1-16 Decrease


Matthew 5:1-16

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I visited with a friend recently who shared that she certainly understood bullying. She had been bullied all of her life. She was still treated poorly by most folks, she said. According to today’s passage, she is blessed. Which seems backwards, doesn’t it?

We all feel badly about ourselves at times. Some more than others. I struggled with insecurities for years. I still, to this day, have a challenge with eye contact. I have heard that you can tell that someone is lying if they glance off to the left. If that’s the case, everything that I say is a lie. Because I glance all over the place when I speak. Folks actually look over their shoulder, because they think that I’m looking at someone or something behind them. I need to work harder on this shortcoming.

Jesus’ teaching doesn’t encourage us to think highly of ourselves as the world teaches. Instead, He encourages us to think of ourselves as insignificant. As nothing without Him. When we decrease, we allow Him to increase in us. And then we become stronger, wiser and better. All because of Him.

We can’t be filled with shame or self-hatred. Because then we are actually focused on ourselves instead of Christ. And that is idolatry.

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” 1 Cor. 10:14

Seriously. All some folks do is talk about themselves. And how badly they feel about themselves.

We must take the focus off of ourselves and focus on Jesus Christ. Every time.

Negative thoughts are going to pop into our minds seemingly out of nowhere. We must not dwell on them, as in, “Where did that come from? OMGoodness, why am I thinking that?” No. We must simply kick the garbage out and focus on Jesus Christ. Acknowledge that we are nothing without Him, lay our worries and fears at His bloody feet and leave them there.

I heard a sermon years ago that transformed my life. I always go back to this sermon. Here’s the gist of it.

Focus on the cross. The bloody form of Jesus on the cross. Lay everything at His feet. Every day. Multiple times a day. The cross covers everything that you are facing. Without fail. Every time.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

How do I let my light shine? By decreasing me. By taking the focus off of myself. And allowing Jesus to increase in me.

“Dear Jesus, thank You for Your pure word of truth this morning. Help me to live it. Help me to speak it. Help me to become one with Your word. I desire that the light of Your word shines through me, every day, all day. I have a long way to go, but I must keep pressing on. How I love You, dear Jesus. AMEN.”