Read: Matthew 5–7
We could spend a long time talking about, dissecting, and learning from today’s reading. After all, these are red letters, the words and teachings spoken directly from the mouth of Jesus. What a gift it is that we are able to read these words and return to them as often as we please. Today, I read this passage aloud to my husband. Even though we are both familiar with these teachings, it is always good to hear them again and be reminded of what the Word says.
We are so blessed, as the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5 remind us. We continually fall short of God’s glory, yet Jesus makes up for what we lack. He lived the life we could not live and paid the price we could never pay. That truth alone should bring us to humility and gratitude.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” — 1 Peter 3:18
“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.” — Matthew 5:7–9
Mercy is not getting what we deserve. If we are honest, we all deserve judgment for our sins. We deserve to die and go to Hell for our sins. Yet God, in His goodness, offers mercy instead. This reality should shape how we live, how we repent, and how we treat others. As a mother, it also shapes how I want to model grace and truth for my children.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23–24
I pray not only for myself, that I would live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and follow the path He has laid out for me, but also for my children. My prayer is that I can raise them in a way that honors God and helps guide them towards the path that He has prepared for them. While I want to support their dreams, interests, and hobbies, I pray that those things would never come before the Lord. God has a plan for both of them, and I want to be careful not to elevate temporary passions above eternity.
Growing up, I was involved in competitive cheerleading. It was truly my first love, sorry, honey. I also went on to coach for many years. In this current season of motherhood, I have stepped away from coaching, but I do hope to return to it one day. Cheerleading taught me perseverance, hard work, listening skills, leadership, discipline, dedication, and how to handle both success and heartbreak. Youth sports can be a wonderful thing when they are kept in their proper place.
One thing my mother was intentional about was not allowing sports to take over our lives or replace our relationship with the Lord. We still went to church and attended church events as much as possible. She also made it clear to my coaches that if my team practiced on Sundays, I would not be there. That has stayed with me.
When I coached in Tampa, I had an athlete who could not attend most Wednesday night practices because of religious commitments. It was something we, as coaches, had to work around. Ideally, the gym would have changed practice days, but that was not possible at the time. Even so, we wanted that athlete on the team, and we made it work. God should always come first.
We prayed before competitions, and I intentionally invited the Lord into what I was doing as an athlete and a coach. At the same time, I faced earthly challenges like jealousy, comparison, and being around people who made sinful choices. I am a sinner too, and I am not above any of it. Those experiences reminded me of how easy it is to be influenced by the world and how important it is to stay grounded in faith and morals.
Reading Matthew chapters 5 through 7 is a powerful reminder that following Jesus is about your heart. It is about humility, obedience, and putting God first in every area of life, including family, work, and the things we “love” most. My prayer is that I would live this out faithfully and teach my children to do the same.
Discussion Question
- Which teaching in Matthew 5–7 challenges you the most in this current season of life, and why?
- How can you model putting God first in practical, visible ways for your child(ren)?
A Note from the Author
Hello everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the Bible verse studies, devotionals, and prayers that I put together. While I strive to offer meaningful insights and reflections, it’s important to clarify that I am not a trained or licensed biblical professional. My goal is not to provide expert theological advice but to share my personal knowledge, beliefs, and experiences as I read and reflect on the Holy Bible.
The insights I offer come from my own understanding and spiritual journey. I approach these reflections with the intention of sharing what personally resonates with me, what I’ve learned through my own study of Scripture, and what the Holy Spirit is sharing through me. I hope these thoughts are helpful and encouraging, but they are based on my personal perspective rather than formal theological training.
This specific Bible study is based off the book A Beautiful Year in the Bible The 52-Week Bible Study for Women by a series of wonderful authors Copyrighted by Alabaster Creative Inc. I do not own the rights to this book and am not claiming to. I am using the book to create my own version of the Bible in 365 days and continue to direct God’s word towards women, more specifically mothers.
Thank you for your understanding and for joining me in this journey of faith and reflection.
Blessings,
Maria Wilcoxon
*The header image is not mine and was taken from Pinterest
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