JAN 22

Matthew 5:1-12
Memorise Matthew 5:4
“blessed are they that mourn…”

Chrysostom, a famous early Church Father of the fourth century, once commented: “The Beatitudes succeed one another like links in a golden chain”. There is a logical progression from one to another. After a person has seen the sin in his life, he must turn to God. This is the solution. A denial or a turning to the pleasures and vanities of the world would only lead to more heartaches and sorrows. No matter how hard we try by our own strength and wisdom, not to sin again, the fleshly nature in man will always surface and can never be rooted out, except by the blood of Christ. 

Thus with a conscious poverty of spirit, there is a mourning over our sinful state, for we see that our sin had nailed our Saviour to the cross. This mourning in spirit is the “godly sorrow which worketh repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10). This repentance towards God will point us to “faith in our Lord Jesus Christ”. This is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit. When the three thousand were converted on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, it is recorded that they were pricked in their heart and cried out (Acts 2:37). This is the work of the Holy Spirit.

For such mourning and sorrow over our sin, there is always divine comfort as we turn and seek the Lord. It will be as if a heavy burden has rolled away. All your anxiety and sleeplessness will disappear. Feelings of relief and joy will flood your soul. You will receive the blessedness of being instructed with wisdom from on high. All who sorrow over sin will know the blessedness of the presence of the Holy Spirit and receive abundant grace for all our need. 

Dear teen, were you ever ashamed of a selfish act you have committed? You have lied and deceived your parents. Perhaps you went to the movies and told them you went to the library. If you have no sorrow for your sins, your sins are still with you and there will be little or no spiritual growth in your life. But if you earnestly seek the Lord to forgive you of that sin, you will be comforted. Then you will experience God’s love and forgiveness. You will also experience His grace to overcome that sin. Indeed what a blessed to seek the Lord with a mournful contrite heart!

Thought: We mourn too when many are dying without Christ. 
Prayer: Lord, may the Holy Spirit give us strength and grace to sorrow for our sins.