Pause

Finding the way to happiness is a lifelong pursuit. Happiness comes and goes, but the blessings of God always remain; they are ever-present.

Take time now to learn the pathway of blessedness that leads to the very presence of God, the source of all joy.

Listen

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh."

Luke 6:20-21

Think

I’ll never forget the look on Miguel’s face as we stood in the living room of his new house in Juarez, Mexico. Three days before, the house didn’t even exist, but with the help of Miguel and our college mission group, it had become a reality. He had a house.

He looked around at all we had done and lifted up his hands to the ceiling, saying, “Esta bonita.” This is beautiful. It wasn’t a very big house – probably the size of one bedroom by U.S. standards. But to Miguel, it was everything.

I’m amazed at the way people who would be considered poor by my standards show me something entirely new. They show me delight, they show me contentment, they show me a zest for life that I often miss in my daily life.

Jesus’ words remind us that they show us something even more; they show us the Kingdom of God. How would your life be different if you started letting the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the captive, the oppressed, and the left-out lead you into the Kingdom of God?

Chris Hughes

Pray

God of the poor and of the weak, in the flesh and bone of Jesus Christ you became poor and weak to show me a better way to live, a way of life not defined by wealth or status but by contentment and freedom in serving other people. Help me to see the poor and the outcast leading the way to your heart and your ways. Amen.

Go

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.

Ephesians 1:3-4