April 26, 2014 Hunger and Thirst

Hunger and Thirst

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  

IF you’re as me, you get hungry often. Is that the way we respond to God’s Word? Do we get hungry and eat? Or do we lack such an appetite?

     Becoming hungry and thirsty for God’s righteousness—his true ways of life—sometimes requires appetizers. Most of us are not inclined to be naturally hungry for God’s word as we are for food and water. Our sin nature causes us to look upon the word and find it distasteful and dry.

     But an appetizer can come when someone speaks a word of prayer from the Bible. An appetizer can come when you hear a challenge, a comfort, a promise, a hope or purpose from God in a sermon. An appetizer can come from a praise song or sacred hymn. An appetizer can stir your taste buds through a “God sighting” as you see him work to heal or a good friend who just “happens” to stop by when you need him.

     Jesus demonstrates the power of a holy appetizer in his conversation with the woman at the well. “Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.’ ‘Sir,’ the woman said, ‘you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” (John 4:10-12)

     She was spiritually broken and dry. Jesus gave her a taste of salvation. Thirsty, she drank of him more and more and was filled eternally.

LIFE Link: Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)

April 25, 2014 Blessing of Meekness

Blessing of Meekness

Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

WHAT is “meek”? Although meekness has the meaning in our culture of weakness, meekness is a Jesus-centered strength. The Apostle Paul says meekness is “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all people.” (Titus 3:2) To be meek is to be polite, humble and thankful for all things. Meekness is having enough of Christ in us to be at peace with all pleasing matters that come our way. We are happy in those events because we meekly understand they come from God. Pride would cause us to raise up ourselves and proclaim, “I did it.” There is no blessing in such self-proclamation.

     Likewise when adversity comes, meekness turns our heart away from self-pity, proclaiming God is against us, or the world is against us. Meekness guides our heart to stay steady as we trust God in all things. Humbly, we understand our sovereign Lord cares for us in all circumstances.

     Consider this. If Jesus had not been of a meek attitude, submitting to the Father’s will even unto death, he would not have completed the Father’s work here on earth. We, then, would not have a Savior.

     We are called to follow Jesus with a meek heart to serve and to sometimes die at the hands of foes. This is a blessing because Jesus says that all who are faithful to be humble to credit and trust God in all things will inherit the earth in the new heaven and earth. (Rev 21:1) Meekness furthers God’s kingdom work. Meekness demonstrates the power of your faith. Meekness brings us into a place to inherit the glorious future of life eternal with Christ.

LIFE Link: Meekness brings a steady flow of God’s grace to your life.

April 23, 2014 Happiness in Mourning

Happiness in Mourning

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

WHEN we experience a loss of some kind, whether it’s losing the ability to do something we like to do, losing a job, or tragically losing a beloved to death, how is it possible to feel and know any form blessing?

     The first answer comes with the promise of comfort. A blessing occurs amid loss when friends come to bless you with their care and comfort. You suddenly experience a closer, loving relationship with people in a way that does not ordinarily occur. Through a heightened focus on God’s Word, prayers and compassion, mournful heart are made happy with the comfort of people bearing Jesus’ eternal love and his promise of eternal life.

     Blessing also comes to those who mourn their sinful habits. As the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we must grieve the sin and turn from it. Mourning sin leads to a repentant heart. Repentance opens the way for God’s blessings to fill your life with his happy truths.

     Third, those who mourn experience happiness as we weep over others’ sin. When people truly mourn the circumstances they see around them, they are ready to teach and demonstrate God’s salvation truths.

     And finally, mourners are blessed even as they suffer: Romans 5:3-5 we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Suffering leads to salvation.

     Yes, even when we mourn, God’s blessings come our way through comfort, repentance, teaching and trust based on God’s care over us now and forever.  

LIFE Link: God, who mourns our sin, happily blesses us with his salvation offering.

April 22, 2014 Rich in Jesus

Rich in Jesus

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

THIS is the first of nine beatitudes. “Beatitude” means “fortunate”, “blessing” or “happy”. Jesus delivered this list at what is known as The Sermon on the Mount. In a fascinating technique, Jesus speaks of blessings coming out of conditions of body, heart and soul that would cause one to feel unhappy instead of happy.

     How, for example, can one be “poor in spirit” and still be happy? Notice that “spirit” is not capitalized—it refers to our own self. This is about our own emotions, thoughts and desires. Jesus teaches that blessing comes when we give away our own desires to have room to receive the Spirit of God into our empty spirits.           When Christ says, “Come, follow me” to his disciples, they must also drop themselves spiritually to be able to accept him as Messiah. We must do the same.

     How do we become “poor in spirit”, make room for Jesus? The means of God’s blessings are always constant. We pray, read and meditate on His Word. We live His Word. The attitude, “I can do it.” gives way to, “Your will be done.”

     In this “poor spirit” opening, we begin to experience God’s kingdom more richly and personally. We begin to say, “Lord, show me what to do.” We even begin to say, “Thank you, God for the trials I endure. I have come closer to you.”

     Being “poor in spirit” means you let God be God in your life. You follow his law, you live his grace, you accept his love, and you rejoice in his work in your life. Your life reflects the life giver so that others may know him.

LIFE Link: Give away some of yourself and receive more of God.