"Jesus' voice needs to be heard again, by Christians. How far we stray from His view of things!

That statement can readily be put to the test. What is your heart set on as vital for your life and your character? What eight things do you most want to see developed in your life? Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to make a list. Does it compare favorably with what Jesus says? Does it include poverty of spirit, meekness, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, a peacemaking spirit, and a willingness to be persecuted for the sake of Jesus? Or do you think that blessing is really to be found elsewhere? Our Lord says that every other supposed blessing is a mirage in the desert. They may promise much; they can supply nothing but disappointment. The only life that God blesses is the one marked by His values. They are the hallmarks of those who belong to the Kingdom of God."

Sinclair Ferguson, Kingdom Life In A Fallen World, NAVPRESS, 1986.