Beatitudes Study Day #2
Scripture:
4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (NLT)
4 “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. (The Message)
Thoughts from others:
Mourners who are coming to understand the reality of how "poor in spirit" they are... will be comforted. It would seem here that God gives special blessing to those who have come to terms with their need. All who have gone through a significant mourning period in their lives are familiar with the reality of the desperation one feels during these times. When we are desperate we tend to call out to God to stop the pain...to help us through the pain... It's the humiliation of coming to the end of ourselves and realizing that we need outside help to process the pain of mourning. It is understandable why God would bless those who are desperately sad... In their sadness, they are expressing a deep level of heart cry, which often leads to a prayer of desperation, which seems to quicken God's grace to comfort. When we are week... He is strong! When we realize our spiritual bankruptcy, and mourn over it, God is strong in and through us. So, blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted with the very presence of God.
Good Grief: http://decarter.wordpress.com/2008/07/29/good-grief/
My Thoughts:
Most of my thoughts about this verse I recorded on the podcast that I do (Soul Reflections), which is located here: http://www.garageband.com/mp3player?|pe1|WdjZPXLrvP2rYVW-Y2lnAQ
I think the interesting thing is not only that Jesus blessed those who mourn because they will be comforted, but also that He uses our pain for a purpose. Whatever pain & struggle we go through can be used to help others be ministered to. We are there to help others work through their pain too, which is an amazing thing because it builds a network for us to realize that we're not alone -- we have God's comfort & the comfort of others around us.
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