MOURNING AND COMFORT...SALVATION COMES!!

Matthew 5:


⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.


The next beatitude that I have been meditating about is Matthew 5:4. What does this scripture tell us about the heart of the believer? Most of us think that this is something we would rather not experience. Those who mourn are usually people who have experienced significant loss. Wouldn't it be better not to experience loss at all than to have to mourn over loss? This verse is absolutely related to the previous verse about being poor in spirit. 


First we have to come to that realization that we are sinners and desperately in need of the grace and mercy that God provides...that is being poor in spirit. After that realization sinks in to our spirit...we are moved to mourning for the hurt and wound we have caused to God, the hopelessness of our standing before Him on our own, and the absolute dependence on God's Holy Spirit to do His work in us. 


Mourning over our sin is what brings us to repentance and calling out to God for His intervention in our helpless state. How many tears have been shed before the throne of God when our hearts came before the Savior crying out for deliverance from ourselves and our sinful ways? This process of mourning over our sin brings us to a glorious promise...WE WILL BE COMFORTED!!


The comfort that comes to us as God's love, grace, and pardon washes over us is awesome. The experience of salvation takes us from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in just moments. There is no work involved on our part because we are incapable of redeeming ourselves. The great promise of redemption is no longer theory but is experienced. It is important for us in this day of "feel good" experiences that we minister to people that before the feeling good really comes, there has to be a brokenness that prepares our hearts for God's presence. Mourning over our sin is the path to the comfort that salvation brings. That's what I've been thinking about today....