July 30, 2021: The Beatitudes of Jesus Gives Everyone Great Comfort for Those Who Will Live by Them.

In reading the Book of Matthew in Chapter 5, Jesus began to teach a multitude of people, along with His disciples, the meaning of life. His teaching is famously known as, "The Beatitudes". It is in His teaching that we can find the true meaning of life in this forever changing dark world we live in.

Matthew 5: 1-5 (NKJV)

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth

The first two beatitudes call us to be "poor in spirit" and "to mourn". If we are "poor in spirit", meaning to be "humble" and "broken" before God, ours is the kingdom of heaven. The only way we can ever enter heaven is to be broken and humble before our God.

"Blessed are those who "mourn", for they shall be comforted". If we are mournful of our sins in our lives and repent from them, God will come to our need and comfort us. The greatest comfort He has brought us was allowing His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins on the cross, so that we can have the choice of spending eternity with Him in heaven...only if we are willing to accept His Son, Jesus, into our hearts and lives.

The third beatitude brings me great comfort to my heart. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth". I heard a message the other day on the radio from Pastor Greg Laurie of Calvary Chapel of Riverside/Orange County, where he stated: “Meekness” is surrendering to the will of God". If we are willing to "surrender to the will of God" in our lives, there is no end to what God can do for us here on earth.

In today's world, we are seeing so much darkness and so little "Light", that is the light of Jesus. As I watch the news every day, I only see the darkness of people coming through. I don't see the Light of Jesus shining through God's people. I am reminded of Matthew 5:14-16 that our light, God's people, is not to be hidden under a basket, but on a lampstand, so it gives light to all who are in the room.

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Our room is this world is our country and our cities we live in. Let us not hide our "Light" that lives within us, under a basket. Let our Light shine "out into the darkness" and show our communities what the "Light of Jesus" looks like. Let His message of peace and love for one another be set free into this dark world so that many will come to understand and know the love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

Let us live out the "beatitudes" Jesus taught. Let us be "poor in spirit". Let us mourn over our sins and turn to Jesus our Savior. Let our attitude of "meekness" always be "surrendered" to God's will in our lives, so that the world can see Jesus through us.