As Messiah started His longest sermon recorded in Scriptures, the first words spoke of comfort, and yet, their meaning must have been strange and puzzling to some.

Last week, in the second part of this blog series, we dove into the deep meaning of Jesus’ first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” You can find that message by clicking HERE.

As He continues, Jesus talks about a concept that would have reminded His followers of words of prophets of old like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

The Greek word for “blessed” here, makarios, is translated as “happy” and was used in pagan Greek literature to describe the state of happiness and well-being such as the gods enjoy. But in the beatitudes, makarios is given a strong spiritual content, containing a congratulatory concept, as a note in Weymouth’s New Testament suggests: ‘People who are blessed may outwardly be much to be pitied, but from the higher and therefore truer standpoint they are to be envied, congratulated, and imitated.’

Therefore, Jesus’ concept of happiness as expressed in the beatitudes transcends those things that make us smile and laugh. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, invites His followers to experience the joy that is found by obeying the Father.

Jesus’ concept of happiness as expressed in the beatitudes transcends those things that make us smile and laugh. #Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, invites us to experience the joys of obedience.
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There are two concepts of mourning that need to be addressed to understand this beatitude:

The first one is intrinsically related to the first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” … Mourners in this instance are those who, unlike the Pharisees, realize their unrighteousness, mourn for their sin, and express their mourning by repenting.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6

And again, as Paul quotes Psalm 14 and 53:

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” Romans 3:10

These “blessed” mourners are Jesus’ followers who, realizing that their sin grieves the heart of the Father, repent and turn from them. These mourners will find the happiness of being comforted by Yahweh’s boundless forgiveness and grace.

Furthermore, these mourners mourn for the sins of others.

They have a zeal for the lost, and for sharing the Good News of salvation with the dying world around them.

I am so thankful for these types of mourners. They are like my youngest aunt, who, being the first person in my family who became a born-again believer, cried out to God for my salvation for many years. She was comforted… as God’s grace reached down, drawing me to repentance and salvation almost a decade later.

Are you that type of mourner?

Do you mourn for those in your family and friend circle who are lost? Do you weep before the Father, fully realizing what your loved one’s eternal destiny truly is, if they die without Christ?

Do you mourn for those in your family and friend circle who are lost? Do you weep before the Father, fully realizing what your loved one’s eternal destiny truly is, if they die without Christ?
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I confess that I do not mourn enough. Not as deeply as I should.

Jesus’ words convict and remind me that He still answer prayers for the salvation of others. Yes, He is faithful to comfort those type of mourners…

Just as He comforted me when I came to the cross, repentant … and filled me with the joy of His presence.

Or as He comforted me by saving my mom after seven years of prayers… and when my dad accepted Christ soon after that.

Or as He comforted me when my brother prayed to receive Christ during a devotional time with me in 1999, and when my best friend prayed to accept Jesus as her Savior, over the phone on December 22, 2002 – my Christmas gift that year.

Those who mourn for the lost will be comforted… and blessed.

The other concept of mourning implied in this beatitude is the promise of comfort for those faithful believers who suffer in this present age, nevertheless remaining faithful to the Father. These are the steadfast believers who go through the sorrows of life with unwavering faith.

The cancer patient whose doctor shakes his head when all human resources for cure are exhausted… and whose soul can soar above the bad report to sing: It is well with my soul…

The father who loses his job, draws the last unemployment check and still believes: Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, will come through…

Those mourners, who keep their eyes anchored on the Rock of Ages, will be comforted by the One who sat upon the Mount that day.

What a blessed promise! What a challenge to my heart today!

Mourn for your sins… mourn for the lost… mourn for your pain… for Jesus, the Grace Giver, promises to pour comfort and supernatural joy upon your weary soul

Mourn for your sins… mourn for the lost… mourn for your pain… for Jesus, the Grace Giver, promises to pour comfort and supernatural joy upon your weary soul.
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Join me next week for the continuation of The Sermon of the Mount Blog Series

The post Another Strange Blessing {The Sermon of the mount Blog Series – Part 3} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:4

He would never taste the milk and honey. Ever. But His eyes would see if from a distance.

God would give him that.

And just as he saw the Promise Land, his heart stopped… and he rested in Him.

“And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said.” (v.5)

I’ll be honest with you. I had a problem with this part of Scripture for a long time.

I know, I know. Moses messed up. He struck the rock instead of speaking to it.

But, man! Talk about harsh punishment (my flesh says)!

After all, he led the Israelites out of Egypt and turned a crowd of slaves into a Nation.

Not just any nation…God’s chosen people.

He delivered God’s commandments and later was used to write God’s laws.

He put up with this unbelieving, rebellious nation time and again, and yet, prayed for them, interceded on their behalf when God vowed to punish them.

And yet, a seemingly small mistake stopped him just a few miles from the borders of the Promise he held close to his heart.

I finished a study on the book of Deuteronomy thinking about the death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34). On that same day, a godly father our family knew lost his battle to cancer.

People from all over the world prayed fervently for his healing. We believed God for a miracle.

But the miracle didn’t come.

As I read about Moses’ passing, I could not help but think of the promise this friend held close to his heart to the very end.The Promise of a future where he would see his children get married and have children.

And as my heart ached for the family, and for a life seemingly cut short…

As I read about Moses’ death, and my flesh wanted to scream again: “Oh, Lord, why not let him step foot in the Promise?”

God’s word through Isaiah rang loudly in my spirit:

“Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:13-14)

And later in his book:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

As I meditated on these well-known verses, the Holy Spirit whispered:

“Moses didn’t set foot on the Promise Land, because his mission was finished. He had run his race, finished the course. My plans for him were better. Sweeter than honey.  I brought him to the REAL Promise Land.”

There, Moses’ heart would not be broken by rebellious Israel again.

There, his aching bones would find complete healing. His tired soul would finally find joy… and rest.

There, there would be no more pain, no more sorrow.

And while the children of Israel went into battle, and later rebelled once again against God, Moses was spared.

And instead of going through more strife and pain, HE EMBRACED HIS REWARD.

Oh, friend, what a blessed assurance to wrap around our hearts when a loved one, a child of the Living God leaves this earth!

What a wonderful Truth to cling to when the troubles of life, and even death does not make sense on this side of eternity:

That we cannot comprehend God’s mercies and grace… And yet, we KNOW they are true and eternal!

That life is but a vapor, and soon we will be reunited with those who go before us, so long as our lives belong to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Better yet, we can tell our hearts this amazing truth:

That our God is still good, even when the worst happens… And our prayers were heard, even though the healing didn’t come.

our God is still good, even when the worst happens… And our prayers were heard, even though the healing didn’t come.
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Moses saw the TRUE Promise Land, way before Joshua and Caleb did.

His eyes saw Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s Promise Land from a distance…

But His feet stepped onto the streets of gold.

As people we love seem to “lose” life’s battles way too soon, and although the sorrow and depression will be certain for a season…

Even though we will miss them until the day God calls us home… may we hold on to this truth, and tell it to our saddened hearts:

They didn’t lose. They won. God’s love and mercy took them home.

And because we believe in the same Savior… and because His stripes healed us all,

We will soon see them again.

The post When Death Makes No Sense appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.