“He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
A few years ago, in Parade magazine there was a survey of what citizens of various countries believe brought happiness. Australian said health is the most important precondition for happiness. The Finns said it was kindness. The Greeks mentioned honesty. The Dutch told us beauty in women and handsomeness in men. The British claimed a sense of humor is indispensable. The Italians, Japanese, and Americans all agree that money is no guarantee of happiness, but it sure helps.
I read that some people bring happiness WHEREEVER they go; some others, WHENEVER they go. Show me a person who is completely dependent and trusting God and there is one who is happy under various circumstances.
I introduced this theme last week reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount. We began with the beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” We come to the Lord without personal merit, only relying on His grace. We have no righteousness of our own. We see ourselves in light of God's perfection. No one can say, “I'll come to God when I'm good enough, or when I get my life straightened out, or I'll come to God when I'm living the way I should.” None of us will be good enough to live that way. We are all sinners. When you recognize your spiritual poverty and have no place to turn, you are blessed because then you can come yielded. Only then can God give you the Kingdom by His grace alone.
We also looked at the second and third, beatitudes that relate to poverty of our condition that cries out to God and that is mourning. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”
We mourn for our sin. We mourn the lostness of the world and the brokenness that comes with selfishness, pride, greed, and oppression. This mourning is to realize God has come to bring us all comfort. There is despair, death and destruction, but rejoicing in the resurrection and promise of life everlasting in the presence of God. When the mourners enter the Kingdom of God they will be comforted. There will be forever relief.
The woman at the well was looking for something that could quench her spiritual thirst, not just physical thirst. In John 4 Jesus shows He is the source of the righteousness she was longing for. It was not in the love of men, but received in the love that comes from Christ. That was filling.
The call to salvation is wonderful. Jesus is trying to show the route of true happiness and what He has to offer in this upside-down world. He wants us to refocus from this world to His Kingdom. We don’t have to wait until we die. We can experience the change now in this life with a new heart. That blessedness is available today.
Application: What are you longing for?
Prayer; Lord I come to you with no personal merit, but only relying on Your grace. I do grieve and mourn for the lostness of the world and the brokenness in me that comes from my own selfishness, pride, greed, and oppression.
