THOUGHTS FROM MATTHEW

January 22

Text: Matthew 5:4

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (NASB)

People mourn for many reasons.  Some mourn because they get caught.  Some mourn consequences endured.  Some mourn loss.  Some mourn because of frustration.  The majority of human mourning occurs because we feel sorrow for self—“How can I live my life without that person?” or “I cannot believe I have to face what I have done yet again!”  Much of our mourning is self-focused.  However, not all mourning arises from a regret that impacts “my” life.

Some mourning occurs because our sense of justice for others has been violated.  We shed tears, or raise voices, or are part of a protest, or begin a movement, or make sacrifices to be of help.  However, rarely is this mourning about what “I” did unjustly to another.  It is mourning about how others unjustly treated others.  While this mourning is not self-focused, neither is it focused in “what I did.”

The mourning of a righteous person is about self.  The righteous mourner—with understanding—is deeply grieved that his/her spiritual poverty has unjustly attacked the God who is so kind to him/her.  It is more than the unjust treatment of other people.  It is the Creator God who has been attacked by “my” motives and actions.  “My” source of life and blessing is attacked by “me.”  It is so unjust, and “I” am powerless of “myself” to make it alright.

“I” admit to “myself” the injustice is “my” fault!  Amazingly, the God “I” unjustly offended becomes “my” source of comfort.  “My” comfort for “my” injustices arises from Him, not from me.

Suggestion for reflection: Search for your motives and actions that offend God.  Do you understand why these are a blatant injustice to the God who is the source of blessing and life?    Focus on why the injustices occur.  (Read Romans 2:3, 4)

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