Faith Foundations - How to Follow JesusSample

Even though it might not always be easy to follow Jesus, we know the Holy Spirit is helping us. Little by little, as we follow Jesus through the help of the Holy Spirit, we become more like Jesus.

Not only are we becoming more like Jesus as we follow Him, but we are also blessed!

The word “blessed” found in Matthew 5: 3-12 means happy. The way to be happy is to follow Jesus. But being happy in this context doesn’t mean everything happens the way we want or nothing bad ever happens to us. This world is broken because of sin. Bad things happen and they happen to good people too. But God is good even if our life situations aren’t.

When He says we are blessed or happy, it means we are joyous and content even when life gets hard because He is with us no matter what. We trust Him with our lives, therefore, we can be happy knowing He’s in control even when life gets hard.

We are happy when we follow God. Our instructions for following Jesus are outlined in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) but can be summed up into one statement: Love God and love others.

Read: Matthew 5:3-12;Matthew 22:37-40.

Reflect: How does the Greatest Commandment given by Jesus in these verses relate to the instructions He’s given us in the Sermon on the Mount?

Pray: Thank God for His instructions and for showing us how to be happy even when life is hard. Ask Him to help you better love Him and others.