Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

Oct 17th Monday’s Blog: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

This is the second blog in our series on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. This week we move on to verse four: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

There are many things in this world that weigh down our hearts. I want to focus on five main depressors that bring us down, and share how to receive comfort in the Lord:

 

Depressor: The Devil

Our adversary, the devil, pursues to steal, kill and destroy everything God has given us. The Bible says, “…But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short….Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:12, 17).

Comforter: The Bible

When I am being attacked by the devil, I find great comfort in the Word of God. When Jesus was tried and tempted by the devil, He sent the devil fleeing when He tore down his lies with the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-11).

The lies the devil hands us are like weights. He can’t force us to carry them. We have a choice to receive them. The more lies we carry through our lives the more they weigh us down. The Word of God exposes the lies we carry (the weights). Once exposed, we can let go of those weights and refuse to take hold of them again.

 

Depressor: Sin

Sometimes we think the devil is attacking us when it’s our wrong choices that create problems in our lives. We want to blame the devil for our problems, but we don’t want to take responsibility for our actions. We can’t disregard God’s commands and expect to live a blessed life. God gives us His commands for our benefit. He knows sin hurts us. If we refuse to follow Him, we will reap the consequences.

Comforter: The Holy Spirit       

Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26, KJV).

I find great comfort knowing God’s Holy Spirit is living in me. It is comforting knowing God is teaching us and guiding us every day. When we fall into sin, He is always there to grasp our hands in support and lift us out.

 

Depressor: Condemnation

The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin. The devil, on the other hand, tries to condemn us when we sin. We have to be careful not to confuse the Holy Spirit’s conviction with condemnation. Conviction makes us aware of our sins so we can confess and turn away from them. Condemnation keeps us feeling guilty in our sins.

Comforter: Jesus Christ

Romans 8:1-3 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”

Once we accept Christ, we are set free from the power of sin. We don’t become sinless like Jesus was when He walked the earth, but we are forgiven for our sins and justified before God. So we don’t need to beat ourselves up every time we fall short.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

—Romans 3:23-24

 

Depressor: Hardships

In our struggles against sin, and in times of hardships, we must not refuse the Lord’s discipline.

Comforter: God

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

—Hebrews 12:4-7

God takes the trials of this world and the consequences that come from the wrong choices we make and uses those to train us and lead us into holiness. If we allow God to teach us, by not refusing His correction, we will reap a harvest of righteousness in our lives. Hebrews 12:10-11 says, “…God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

 

Depressor: Pain in the world

As I grow closer to the Lord, He opens my eyes to the needs around me. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed knowing so many people are suffering. It’s not only the obvious physical suffering that brings me down; it’s more importantly the great spiritual suffering in the body of Christ that I see today. Many Christians are not living the life Jesus died to give them. I truly mourn for the world today. If we are not being the hands and feet of Jesus, how is the world going to know the Truth?

Comforter: Grace

God reminds me of Elijah whenever I begin to lose hope in the body of Christ. In Romans 11:2-4 Paul talks about Elijah’s appeal to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me.”  God’s answer to Elijah was: “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

In the next verse Paul explains, “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

We can find comfort knowing our works will not bring about change, God’s grace will.

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

—Acts 2:17-18

 

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**Prayer for the week**

Heavenly Father,

We praise You that we can always find comfort in You. Help us to stand against the enemy’s deception with the Word of God. Help us to turn away from sin by following Your Holy Spirit. Help us not to fall into condemnation when You convict us of sin. Help us to accept Your correction and allow You to train us and lead us into Your Holiness. And help us to mourn for the lost and hurting, and lead them to Your matchless grace.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!

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*Come back next Monday as I share more of God’s Truths and the reasons behind the Truths.

*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.