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