The NIV 365 Day Devotional

The Blessings of Letting Others Go First

These “blessed” verses begin Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, given early in his ministry. In these first verses he gives his listeners instruction on what life looks like in Jesus’ upside-down kingdom. He teaches his followers a new way to live and think, the opposite of ordinary thinking. For instance, instead of being proud, be poor in spirit, meaning you know you have nothing without God in your life. (You’ll experience heaven.) Instead of an impure or divided heart that clouds your view of God, be pure in heart. (You’ll see God.) Be meek, not weak, but surrendered. (God will give you all you need on earth.)

REMEMBER: Many of us do everything to be the best, the first, the top of the heap. We think mainly of ourselves. We cheat if that’s what it takes. However, Jesus teaches a better way. Being humble, merciful and pure aren’t common characteristics in our world. They can look like weakness. But greater power can be found in stepping back to allow others to be first, and greater satisfaction in life comes from the opposite of what the world expects. Jesus wants us to be fully dependent on him and his Holy Spirit.

Taken from the Kingdom Girls Bible.