The Beatitudes: Say What?
The Beatitudes: Say What?
In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn…” Wait…say what? Did I misread that? Those who mourn are “blessed”? How can that be?
Out of context, that phrase seems harsh but when it is read with the rest of that sentence, you understand what Jesus is saying. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Now that’s better but still, it strikes me as odd that Jesus considers those who mourn to be blessed. That is until you realize who it is that is doing the comforting. Jesus isn’t just referring to people who comfort those who mourn, He is saying that it is God who will comfort them.
When we grieve, we have the tendency to feel loneliness and abandonment. In the case of losing a loved one, everyone around us grieves with us for a time. But they eventually go on with their lives while we are left stuck dealing with our loss. It is like riding a merry-go-round. At first, everyone gets on the merry-go-round with you. But eventually you find yourself alone on it watching in slow motion as everyone else goes on with their lives.
Jesus is reassuring us that even when everyone else has gone away, God is still there comforting us. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3 that God is “the God of all comfort”. Psalm 56 tells us, “You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” The Psalmist was saying that God remembers, and He is with us as if He is recording and capturing every tear. Jesus Himself demonstrated what God is like when His friend Lazarus died as Jesus wept.
God is keenly aware when we grieve. He is right there with us in the middle of our pain and suffering. He promises not to leave us and to never forsake us. He comforts us and weeps with us. He pays special attention when you are in mourning and He cares for you.
Don’t overlook the subtle ways that God comforts you in your life. God comforts us through His Holy Spirit so take the time to talk with Him. He comforts us through His Word so spend time reading it. He comforts us through His people so be aware of those who God sends to you in your time of mourning.
You may not feel blessed when you mourn but you are because the God of all Creation takes notice and uses His miraculous ways to express His love to you.
These are your Words for Wednesday. Have a great rest of your week!
In Christ,
Kevin
In Matthew 5:4, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn…” Wait…say what? Did I misread that? Those who mourn are “blessed”? How can that be?
Out of context, that phrase seems harsh but when it is read with the rest of that sentence, you understand what Jesus is saying. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Now that’s better but still, it strikes me as odd that Jesus considers those who mourn to be blessed. That is until you realize who it is that is doing the comforting. Jesus isn’t just referring to people who comfort those who mourn, He is saying that it is God who will comfort them.
When we grieve, we have the tendency to feel loneliness and abandonment. In the case of losing a loved one, everyone around us grieves with us for a time. But they eventually go on with their lives while we are left stuck dealing with our loss. It is like riding a merry-go-round. At first, everyone gets on the merry-go-round with you. But eventually you find yourself alone on it watching in slow motion as everyone else goes on with their lives.
Jesus is reassuring us that even when everyone else has gone away, God is still there comforting us. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3 that God is “the God of all comfort”. Psalm 56 tells us, “You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” The Psalmist was saying that God remembers, and He is with us as if He is recording and capturing every tear. Jesus Himself demonstrated what God is like when His friend Lazarus died as Jesus wept.
God is keenly aware when we grieve. He is right there with us in the middle of our pain and suffering. He promises not to leave us and to never forsake us. He comforts us and weeps with us. He pays special attention when you are in mourning and He cares for you.
Don’t overlook the subtle ways that God comforts you in your life. God comforts us through His Holy Spirit so take the time to talk with Him. He comforts us through His Word so spend time reading it. He comforts us through His people so be aware of those who God sends to you in your time of mourning.
You may not feel blessed when you mourn but you are because the God of all Creation takes notice and uses His miraculous ways to express His love to you.
These are your Words for Wednesday. Have a great rest of your week!
In Christ,
Kevin
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