Matthew 5:7-12 · Saturday & Sunday, October 24/25, 2026 · 13:25
Daily Lectio Divina podcast · Abiding Way Ministries (Sharon Garlough Brown) · All episodes · Featured with permission
Reading guide
Marx argued that free, creative work is what makes us human. Scripture agrees more than you might expect — and then goes further.
Read the guide →God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'Image and dominion
The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.Work before the fall
To Adam he said, 'Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and ate from the tree, about which I commanded you, saying, "You shall not eat of it," the ground is cursed for your sake. You will eat from it with much labor all the days of your life. It will yield thorns and thistles to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.'Thorns and toil
Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.One flesh
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.Creation
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.'Spirit-filled craft
Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or scared of them, for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.Never forsaken
Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.Courage
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.The inner heart
I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.Wonderfully made
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.Light for the path
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.Divine counsel
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Refuge
The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?Light and salvation
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.Trust when afraid
Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.Morning joy
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.Healing
The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.Near the broken
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.Sowing and reaping
Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.Taste and see
I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.Help from above
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.The Shepherd
Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.Delight in God
Know that the LORD, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Made and kept
This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.Rejoice today
In the morning, the LORD, you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.Morning prayer
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Through the valley
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.Near the brokenhearted
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.'My refuge
Commit your way to the LORD. Trust also in him, and he will do this:Commit your way
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.Merciful and gracious
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.His mercy endures
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.Be still
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.Friendship
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.Gentle answers
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.Guard your heart
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.Guidance
The LORD's name is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and are safe.Strong tower
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.Commit your plans
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.Finding wisdom
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.Beginning of knowledge
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.Get wisdom
A man's heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.The LORD directs steps
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.Wise counsel
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.Walk with the wise
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.Diligent planning
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me; or I will be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.Neither poverty nor riches
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend's countenance.Iron sharpens iron
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.Train up a child
Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD.A good thing
Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.A worthy woman
A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.A crown to her husband
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.Seasons of life
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.A time for everything
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up.Two are better
Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way. Walk in it.'The right path
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Fear not
Those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.Renewed strength
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.Perfect peace
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.Presence in trials
'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways,' says the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.'Higher ways
For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD who has mercy on you.Unshakable kindness
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' says the LORD, 'plans for peace and not for evil, to give you hope and a future.'Hope and future
It is because of the LORD's loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions don't fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.New every morning
What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?Justice and humility
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.God is good
The LORD your God is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.God rejoices over you
Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.Ask and receive
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.Rest
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.Rest for your soul
Look at the birds of the air: they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?God's provision
But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Right priorities
Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.Shining light
'Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.'Rest for your soul
'Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.'Built on rock
Jesus said to him, ''You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'The great commandment
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.Peacemakers
He said to them, 'Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.Faith like a mustard seed
Jesus answered them, 'Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don't doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it would be done.Faith without doubt
Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Make disciples
All things are possible to him who believes.Power of faith
Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.Believe you receive
For no word from God will be void of power.God's powerful word
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?Count the cost
'As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.The golden rule
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.God's love
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.True peace
In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.Overcoming
But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is still working, so I am working, too.'The working God
I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.Abiding fruit
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.Greater love
Jesus said to him, 'Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.'Blessed who believe
Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.'The Way, the Truth, the Life
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.Life in abundance
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Love demonstrated
Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.Renewed mind
If God is for us, who can be against us?God with us
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Abounding hope
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.All things work together
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.Nothing can separate
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;Sincere love
In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;Brotherly affection
So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Faith comes by hearing
For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, 'But the righteous shall live by faith.'The just live by faith
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.The gift of God
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil.Love in action
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.A way through
Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.For God's glory
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.Labor not in vain
Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! Let all that you do be done in love.Stand firm
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love is patient
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.The greatest is love
Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.Belonging to each other
Now I beg you that when I am present I may not yet be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we don't wage war according to the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will have been made full.Weapons not of the flesh
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.New beginnings
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.Grace in weakness
Therefore we don't faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we don't look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.Do not lose heart
for we walk by faith, not by sight.Walk by faith
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore, and don't be subject again to a yoke of slavery.Freedom
Let's not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don't give up.Perseverance
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Fruit of the Spirit
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.Christ lives in me
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we would walk in them.Created for purpose
Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.Work that gives
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.Beyond asking
Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Redeem the time
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.Saved by grace
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Rooted in love
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.Keep the unity
subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;Submit to one another
He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.He completes
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.Strength
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus.Peace over anxiety
But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your thought for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.Content in all things
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.Think on these things
doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.Consider others
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.Peace rules
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.Wholehearted work
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.Work heartily
Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.Put on love
As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.Rooted and built up
and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you; that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.Quiet, faithful work
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.Faithful protection
For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.Power and sound mind
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,His kindness appeared
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.Unchanging
There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.Sabbath rest
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.Faith
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;Anchor of the soul
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.Spur one another on
looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Looking to Jesus
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, 'I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.'Never forsake you
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.Wisdom
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.Joy in trials
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Armies. You have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous one. He doesn't resist you.Wages that cry out
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.Wisdom from above
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.Be doers
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.Faith with works
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.Testing produces patience
Above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.Covering love
Cast all your worries on him, because he cares for you.Cast your cares
You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.Honour your wife
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.Hospitality
whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don't see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory— receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.Joy unspeakable
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.Love casts out fear
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.God is love
We love him, because he first loved us.He first loved us
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn't know us, because it didn't know him.Children of God
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.Overcoming the world
The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there), and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.Glory brought in