Understanding the beatitudes in Matt.5:1-12 requires us to comprehend the meaning of the term blessed. Many people think the word means "happy" but that view is inadequate.
Happiness,in an utimate sense,is certainly a part of being blessed by God, but divine blessing goes far beyond mere happiness. It involves God's favor, His willingness to come near and dwell among His people. This is the chief meaning of the Aaronic blessing in Num. 6:22-27. The hope of Israel was that God would shine His face on the people, that there wouild be close, fellowship between the creator and His creatures. The New Testament expands on this, revealing that our ultimate hope is the Beatific Vision-face-to-face communion with God and His glory in eternity(1Cor.13:12; 1Jn.3:2).
How do we enjoy the Lord's favor and experience a taste of His presence now, and then, for all eternity, the fullness of His glory? The answer is found in the very first beatitude.Jesus tells us that only the "poor in spirit" will receive the kingdom of heaven(Matt.5:3. Poverty in spirit is emptying of our self-reliance and claim we (falsely) believe to have on God. It is a recognition that we are utterly dependent on divine grace and undeserving of His favor. It is repentance for setting ourselves up as (gods)and then a resting in the Lord's promise of salvation.
This exerpt was borrowed from Tabletalk, a daily devotional magazine published by Ligonier Ministries.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Being what you already are.
I guess one of the most difficult things for a christian is to be what God has already declared him to be. 2 Cor.5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come." And in Rom.5:1 "Therefore having been justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Yes we are declared to be righteous through our faith in Christ!
Why then is it so difficult to walk it out daily? Maybe it is that we don't see ourselves the way God does. He sees us in His son with whom He is well pleased.
We are saved from the wrath to come because God has already poured out the wrath; reserved for me on His Son when He suffered on the cross.
So now we can work out our salvation in fear and trembling knowing that we are free to do so. It was for freedom that Christ set you free so that sin need not reign in your mortal bodies. Even so consider youselves to be dead to sin but alive to God.
When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, we were dead to the things of God, but now we are made alive to the things that God has for us. By the grace of God we can be what He has made us to be. Amen!
Why then is it so difficult to walk it out daily? Maybe it is that we don't see ourselves the way God does. He sees us in His son with whom He is well pleased.
We are saved from the wrath to come because God has already poured out the wrath; reserved for me on His Son when He suffered on the cross.
So now we can work out our salvation in fear and trembling knowing that we are free to do so. It was for freedom that Christ set you free so that sin need not reign in your mortal bodies. Even so consider youselves to be dead to sin but alive to God.
When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, we were dead to the things of God, but now we are made alive to the things that God has for us. By the grace of God we can be what He has made us to be. Amen!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
An Eternal Persprective
"But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last.And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!.” Job 19:25-27 NLT
Job had an eternal perspective that transcended his earthly problems. Job’s confidence in God is astounding. In the midst of his darkest hour he reaffirms his belief in the Eternal. I am afraid our modern evangelicalism has sold us a message devoid of eternal things. Often the appeal to the lost is about God’s blessings: healed relationships, better circumstances and solved problems – in short it presents God as primarily concerned about our life here and now. The message is summed up with the slogan, “You can have a great life now with God!”
When Christians lose their eternal perspective they often lose the true motivation to endure, persevere and ultimately triumph over day to day difficulties. Like Job we have to be able to say with confidence, no matter what happens today, there is confidence in something better tomorrow – “My redeemer lives and I shall see Him.”
This life and this physical body are the temporary parts of our life. Our Soul and Spirit are eternal. I often tell young people, “do not trade the eternal for the temporary.”
Prayer for today: Father I ask you to infuse my being with an awesome sense of eternity. Like Job I want to be overwhelmed by the reality of it, so that it captivates and motivates me to live for you and to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ and the truth that they too can enjoy an eternity with their redeemer God.
Job had an eternal perspective that transcended his earthly problems. Job’s confidence in God is astounding. In the midst of his darkest hour he reaffirms his belief in the Eternal. I am afraid our modern evangelicalism has sold us a message devoid of eternal things. Often the appeal to the lost is about God’s blessings: healed relationships, better circumstances and solved problems – in short it presents God as primarily concerned about our life here and now. The message is summed up with the slogan, “You can have a great life now with God!”
When Christians lose their eternal perspective they often lose the true motivation to endure, persevere and ultimately triumph over day to day difficulties. Like Job we have to be able to say with confidence, no matter what happens today, there is confidence in something better tomorrow – “My redeemer lives and I shall see Him.”
This life and this physical body are the temporary parts of our life. Our Soul and Spirit are eternal. I often tell young people, “do not trade the eternal for the temporary.”
Prayer for today: Father I ask you to infuse my being with an awesome sense of eternity. Like Job I want to be overwhelmed by the reality of it, so that it captivates and motivates me to live for you and to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ and the truth that they too can enjoy an eternity with their redeemer God.
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