-February 7, 2024-
Good morning, happy Wednesday,
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
(Matthew 5:4).
The Beatitudes were spoken to believers, for believers. They give principles to live by as members of the kingdom of God with Jesus as our King. We can describe them as the fruit of righteousness. They are way more than mere beautiful platitudes but practical ways of living.
Yesterday we considered being poor in spirit, today we will look at mourning over sin, both in our lives and in the world, and the rejection of Christ by those around us.
This world can be summarized as a vale of tears. There are so many things that cause us sorrow, bringing us to tears. But even more is sorrow over the evil, wickedness, and the rejection of Christ which is everywhere around us.
The Bible teaches us to hate sin, injustice, and every evil thought, word, and action. The holy hatred of sin leads to sorrow. God promises to comfort us both now and especially in eternity when there will be no more sorrow, tears nor crying, no more pain, or death. Heaven will be our rest and comfort.
Two men in particular in the Bible mourned over their sins and those of their countrymen: Ezra and Daniel. Ezra 9:5-6 says, “At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord God. And I said: ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.’” He mourned over the sins of his brethren who had married foreign women. This is the kind of mourning that is blessed in God’s eyes.
Daniel in praying and confessing said, “For we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and your judgments” (Daniel 9:5). In both cases, Ezra and Daniel confessed the sins of the people as their own and wept over them.
It is so sad to see what is happening todayin our nation and throughout the world. So many are rejecting Christ and working against His cause and His kingdom. Many believers are suffering severe persecution in certain countries. The U.S.A., once a godly, God fearing nation, has strayed so far from Him. Let us pray with fervency and tears confessing the sin of our nation.
We can’t sit idly by while things are as they without being moved to godly sorrow. May we find solace in the Lord by being kingdom men and women in this sinful world.
Have a blessed day of godly mourning. Stay safe and healthy.
Being hurt and sad when others are hurt and sad,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 