Matthew 5:4-6, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
As a Christian you should despise sin and mourn over it. You should exercise godliness and see sin for what it is.
In other words, sin should bring about a holy anger because you know that it always separates you from our heavenly Father. You should hate it to the point where it makes you spiritually sick, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sin.
Secondly, when sin is seen in others, it should bring us to our knees in prayer that they may see it and turn away from their sins. But, when the Lord points it out in your own life, your attitude should be one of mourning within your very souls. The Bible says that “Godly sorrow produces repentance…” 2Cor. 7:10
And, Thirdly, you are to exercise godliness that pleases God and see sin for what it is. Your pursuit and continued, habitual obedience to the Word of God will strengthen your sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit in Holy living. Like a muscle that is strengthened through exercise, you could say that your “obedience muscle” will be strengthened as you submit to God and exercise His Word in obedience.
You need to have the right attitude toward your sins – It is necessary to hate sin, be under control in your behavior, and have an insatiable appetite for God’s righteousness that sin may be something that is always in proper perspective to holiness in our lives.
What is your attitude toward sin? Happy is the man that mourns over his sin, has good self-control, and hungers and thirst for righteousness.
May your happiness be one that is heavenly in origin and earthly in display!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Image
The world teaches that IMAGE is more important than character. We have Public Relations people, Image Consultants, and Marketing gurus that can make your company, or you, sound and look like anything you want!
But as followers of Christ, Jesus talks to us in the Beatitudes, drawing us a picture of what WE are to be. Here Jesus described Christian character that flowed from the Spirit – from within! It wasn’t some gimmick that He was selling, but rather a divine list of godly attributes we should live by.
The scene at the beginning of Matthew 5 is Jesus coming to a hill with a trail of people, including His disciples. He had just traveled throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing; His fame spread quickly and great multitudes followed Him.
The crowd was inseparable from Jesus and their eyes and ears were fixed on Him!
“What is He going to say next?” “What is He going to DO now?”
Jesus climbed the hill, sat down, His disciples drawing near and as He prepared to speak, I can just imagine the hush that came over the crowd...
Jesus said, “Blessed are the…” and the people were blown away!
You see the word “blessed” Jesus used meant “divine joy and perfect happiness” but it wasn’t normally used for humans. It was a word that described the kind of joy that was only experienced by gods and the dead!
It was a powerful word and the people must have had perplexed looks on their faces and maybe even questioned these first few statements because the people knew exactly what this word meant.
For Christians, this word means that there is a satisfaction that is quenched in the Lord and a sufficiency that is eternal in Christ, and this should be seen in the way we live our lives.
The IMAGE, as Christians, we are to portray is a real one that comes from the Holy Spirit living within us as we live in obedience to God!
Like the crowd on that hill, does Jesus have YOUR undivided attention? Do you hang on His every Word? Do you have that “divine joy and perfect happiness” that no person, or circumstance can take away?
What is the IMAGE you are portraying? Is it a list of godly attributes, or your own made up list?
Matthew 5:3-10, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…those who mourn…the meek…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers…those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
But as followers of Christ, Jesus talks to us in the Beatitudes, drawing us a picture of what WE are to be. Here Jesus described Christian character that flowed from the Spirit – from within! It wasn’t some gimmick that He was selling, but rather a divine list of godly attributes we should live by.
The scene at the beginning of Matthew 5 is Jesus coming to a hill with a trail of people, including His disciples. He had just traveled throughout Galilee teaching, preaching, and healing; His fame spread quickly and great multitudes followed Him.
The crowd was inseparable from Jesus and their eyes and ears were fixed on Him!
“What is He going to say next?” “What is He going to DO now?”
Jesus climbed the hill, sat down, His disciples drawing near and as He prepared to speak, I can just imagine the hush that came over the crowd...
Jesus said, “Blessed are the…” and the people were blown away!
You see the word “blessed” Jesus used meant “divine joy and perfect happiness” but it wasn’t normally used for humans. It was a word that described the kind of joy that was only experienced by gods and the dead!
It was a powerful word and the people must have had perplexed looks on their faces and maybe even questioned these first few statements because the people knew exactly what this word meant.
For Christians, this word means that there is a satisfaction that is quenched in the Lord and a sufficiency that is eternal in Christ, and this should be seen in the way we live our lives.
The IMAGE, as Christians, we are to portray is a real one that comes from the Holy Spirit living within us as we live in obedience to God!
Like the crowd on that hill, does Jesus have YOUR undivided attention? Do you hang on His every Word? Do you have that “divine joy and perfect happiness” that no person, or circumstance can take away?
What is the IMAGE you are portraying? Is it a list of godly attributes, or your own made up list?
Matthew 5:3-10, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…those who mourn…the meek…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers…those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Poor in spirit
Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
As Christians we are to have a proper perspective of SELF! The man that thinks too highly of himself is prideful and brings shame to the Lord BUT so does the man that says, “Woe is me. I can’t do anything. I am nothing and won’t do anything.”
“Poor in spirit” does not mean that you are to be a doormat, spineless, without internal fortitude, or confidence.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen this attitude in too many Christians!
I don’t see this displayed in people that are listed in Hebrews 11, which is known as the “Hall of Faith”.
People like Noah that moved with godly fear; Abraham that when tested, offered up Isaac because of his faith in God’s promise; Moses was a man that refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (see Hebrews 11:31-34 for more examples).
NO, to be “poor in spirit” means true, godly humility that sees himself as dependent on God, believing Him and acting in all humility, obedience to God, in love and uncompromising in the truth.
This is an attitude of honesty that says we know ourselves, accept ourselves, and try to be ourselves to the glory of God, according to the Word of God, by the Spirit of God. We are personally bankrupt yet rich in Christ!
Are you showing a spirit like this in your life?
As Christians we are to have a proper perspective of SELF! The man that thinks too highly of himself is prideful and brings shame to the Lord BUT so does the man that says, “Woe is me. I can’t do anything. I am nothing and won’t do anything.”
“Poor in spirit” does not mean that you are to be a doormat, spineless, without internal fortitude, or confidence.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen this attitude in too many Christians!
I don’t see this displayed in people that are listed in Hebrews 11, which is known as the “Hall of Faith”.
People like Noah that moved with godly fear; Abraham that when tested, offered up Isaac because of his faith in God’s promise; Moses was a man that refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (see Hebrews 11:31-34 for more examples).
NO, to be “poor in spirit” means true, godly humility that sees himself as dependent on God, believing Him and acting in all humility, obedience to God, in love and uncompromising in the truth.
This is an attitude of honesty that says we know ourselves, accept ourselves, and try to be ourselves to the glory of God, according to the Word of God, by the Spirit of God. We are personally bankrupt yet rich in Christ!
Are you showing a spirit like this in your life?
Friday, November 13, 2009
Praise Him
God tells us throughout the Bible to praise Him at all times.
We can all say that it has been tough to praise Him or even rejoice at various times in our lives. We all have those seasons and moments that we experience when we just feel like we can’t lift our hands in praise to God, let alone our voices: the kids are rebellious, you lose your job, bills are piling up, you and your spouse are on edge, and you would like for it all to just go away!
I read a story of a mother, tired and weary, entering into the NICU to spend time with her baby that had been born prematurely. Her baby was once again under the blue light to help her get rid of the jaundice. Her eyes were covered to protect them from the light and she was hooked up to many different wires, including a tube to her nose that brought the necessary oxygen to help her live.
This mother bent down to bring her face close to her daughter and she asked God, “why?”
Just at that time a nurse came in and tapped this woman on the shoulder and asked her if she was ok. Her response was “yes”, but then the nurse asked, “Are you sure?” That was all it took for her to burst into tears.
The nurse gently reached over and embraced her and whispered in the mother’s ear, “God is still good. All the time.” Amazing words at just the right time; these words ministered to this mom in a divine way.
The Bible tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness (Lam. 3:23). Even if we can’t see what’s ahead we can count on the fact that He has a future and hope for us (Jer. 29:11), and we can rest in His promises.
Today, may you fix your eyes on Jesus Christ the Author and Completer of our faith and rejoice in His goodness.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3
We can all say that it has been tough to praise Him or even rejoice at various times in our lives. We all have those seasons and moments that we experience when we just feel like we can’t lift our hands in praise to God, let alone our voices: the kids are rebellious, you lose your job, bills are piling up, you and your spouse are on edge, and you would like for it all to just go away!
I read a story of a mother, tired and weary, entering into the NICU to spend time with her baby that had been born prematurely. Her baby was once again under the blue light to help her get rid of the jaundice. Her eyes were covered to protect them from the light and she was hooked up to many different wires, including a tube to her nose that brought the necessary oxygen to help her live.
This mother bent down to bring her face close to her daughter and she asked God, “why?”
Just at that time a nurse came in and tapped this woman on the shoulder and asked her if she was ok. Her response was “yes”, but then the nurse asked, “Are you sure?” That was all it took for her to burst into tears.
The nurse gently reached over and embraced her and whispered in the mother’s ear, “God is still good. All the time.” Amazing words at just the right time; these words ministered to this mom in a divine way.
The Bible tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness (Lam. 3:23). Even if we can’t see what’s ahead we can count on the fact that He has a future and hope for us (Jer. 29:11), and we can rest in His promises.
Today, may you fix your eyes on Jesus Christ the Author and Completer of our faith and rejoice in His goodness.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3
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