Month: May 2019

The Beatitudes Part 7

Readings Psalm 85; Matthew 5:1-12

Joseph was a great example of a peacemaker.
His brothers treated him badly and sold him into slavery. When Joseph’s position put him above them, he tested and then forgave his brothers and restored peace to the household of Jacob. Joseph had every reason to be angry, but he chose to be merciful.
Read Genesis 50, Psalm 105:17-22

We are God’s enemies by nature. He is our peacemaker. 

God takes the initiative. He makes peace with us. He provides the sacrifice for our sins. The death of Christ Jesus His Son was the punishment for our sins. Jesus bore the wrath of God on our behalf and his righteousness is transferred to us through repentance and faith in him alone. He transforms us from within by the power of His Spirit and adopts us into His family.

May we be peacemakers like our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Beatitudes Part 6

Readings Psalm 24:1-10; Matthew 5:1-12

On what grounds can anyone hope to approach God?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 

The problem is, we all have unclean hands and an impure heart and we can’t just show up in that condition and expect admittance.

We don’t want to approach God when our hearts are unclean and not pure because we will be exposed for who we truly are.

Matthew 15:11
it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Isaiah 6:5
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

The only way anyone can dwell in God’s presence is to have purified hearts; cleansed by Jesus.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Thank God that we can be made clean so that we can approach God through Jesus Christ his Son.

The Beatitudes Part 5

Matthew 5:7
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Read also Hosea 5:11-6:11a

God desires that we be merciful, even to those who may have made bad choices and appear to be reaping what they have sown. If we don’t show mercy to them, why should we expect God to grant us mercy? Do we want and expect God to give justice to others, but be merciful to ourselves? 

[But] God [is] merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 84:15

 

The Beatitudes Part 4

Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Hunger and thirst are powerful drives. Have you ever been desperately thirsty for a drink of water? How about righteousness?

Are you opposed to God’s righteousness and trying to satisfy your spiritual needs through idolatry?

The day is coming when all opponents to God’s righteousness will be gone and the new Jerusalem will be on earth; those who seek it will be satisfied and nourished in fulfilment of all God’s promises.