Introspection
One who is poor in spirit understands the sin in his life. His spiritual poverty leads naturally into Jesus’ next statement:
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)
Why mourn? Is there something truly blessed in being downcast, weeping all the time? Why are there so many scriptures which talk about the JOY of walking with the Lord if we should be in mourning?
This is not a constant state of sadness. This mourning is for a specific, spiritual purpose. We mourn because of sin, mostly because of our own sin and what that sin did to our Father and His Son. But I think this is also a general mourning for the sin we see all around us. As Jesus looked over Jerusalem and saw their future destruction, He lamented: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…” (Matthew 23:37). Hebrews 5:7 tells us that Jesus “offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” Jesus did not weep over His own sins but over the pain that sin brought into the world.
Where is the comfort? It’s in the future. Jesus looked FORWARD to His day of salvation from this earth. He “for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus was able to look past the sin and suffering to the joy of His glorification and reunion with the Father!
Of course, we are more than conquerors NOW, if we are in Christ. We overcome now (Romans 8:37) because God MAKES us overcome! We mourn and weep now in the flesh (James 4:9), but God is working in us to make us brand-new. Though our outer man is perishing, our inner man is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you! (James 4:10)
May God’s blessings be upon you today,
Nathan
