The “BEATITUDES” Part 2

“Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
“Those who mourn are fortunate! for they shall be comforted.” TLB
“Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them! GNT

The Message Bible paraphrases the verse like this “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

Yesterday we learned about those who are poor in spirit and theirs is the kingdom of God. The context in which Jesus says this is the pride-filled and self-righteous religious leaders of his day, who never understood the term “poor in spirit” because they looked down on others, ignoring or masking their own sins. Such people then and now do not have any place in God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is for those who understand and acknowledge their true state of sinfulness and seek God for help. To those who are poor in spirit. When you recognized you cannot make it to God and heaven by your best efforts, then you are at the end of your rope.

When you get that point and look to the cross where God made the free provision for you to enter into His kingdom, he lets you in not because of your goodness, but because of the goodness and work of Jesus Christ on your behalf by the way of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Now today’s insight says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” You see, the poor in spirit, those who understand the dire need of God and His salvation, are people who mourn. They see a lot of inadequacies and imperfections in their life and are sorrowful over it.

This is also in contrast to the prideful and arrogant religious leaders of the day in the first century. They point their accusing fingers at others and make them mourn. They never see a reason for mourning in themselves. However, those who seek God mourn over their shortcomings. Jesus says mourning is not bad as you may have thought so far. On the contrary, it is good because those who mourn will be comforted by God. TLB says those who mourn are fortunate! for they shall be comforted.

It seems based on the pages of the Bible that God is consistently on the side of unfortunate, broken, bankrupt, ill-treated, and in deep grief. You can’t escape believing this fact when you read the scripture. Are you unfortunate, broken, bankrupt, and deep grief and sorrow? God is near you and comforts you in all your sorrows.

Isaiah the prophet may have believed he was pretty good. However, one day he was taken to the courtroom and he saw the Lord. He saw the Lord sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. There were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They said to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of heaven! The whole earth is filled with his glory.” The voice of the seraphim shook the temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke. Then Isaiah cried out, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among people with filthy lips. Yet, I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s armies.”

The moment he acknowledged his true nature and confessed, one of the seraphim flew to him with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of thongs. He touched Isaiah’s lips with it and said, “see this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Then God commissioned and send him as a messenger to the people. This was the calling and commissioning of Isaiah for God’s ministry.

Beloved, Isaiah acknowledged and confessed his sin. He mourned over it. He was comforted by God. He was forgiven. Then he was commissioned. God says in Isaiah 66:2, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word”. Are you humble and contrite in spirit by agreeing with God about your sinful nature? If so, Jesus says you are blessed. Blessed means ‘happy’. Those who mourn are happy. God accepts them and gives comfort.

Jesus said you shall be comforted. No doubt- it is assurance and strong promise from God. When you agree with God your sinful nature without masking and covering it, you are comforted by God. You will get into close fellowship with him. Your intimate fellowship with God and His comfort are the foundations of blessings and happiness.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I need your forgiveness, intimate fellowship, and comfort. I repent of my sins and turn to you for your salvation. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. I believe he died for my sins and rose again. Please comfort and deliver me now with your loving grace. I trust in your mercy, grace, love, and deliverance. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”