THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3 NIV

Poor in spirit is a condition of the heart given by the Spirit of God to the believer. A spiritual bankruptcy—an awareness of our own depravity and hopelessness without God—a need for Him. The closer we walk with Jesus, our inherent need for Him is realized. The smaller we get, the bigger He becomes; it is in that awareness, Jesus says, we inherit the kingdom of heaven.

See my last post on the Beatitudes

https://www.jenarainonesmith.com/post/the-blessings

Though being poor in spirit is given to us by God, it is not a natural posture of man. I know for me, if I take my eyes off of Jesus and put them on myself, I am filled with more self-righteousness and pride than I am with spiritual poverty. My need to control is puffed up. I become bigger and He becomes smaller.

Jesus started here for a reason; the statements to follow are impossible for man without realizing poverty of spirit; and the first response is mourning.

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV

Many have believed (including me) that this was meant for those who mourn or grieve over a loss. Don't misunderstand me, I do think this is implied here; loss can be a deep and devastating experience. However, I believe Jesus is referring to mourning as a godly sorrow over sin and its effects.

For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB

This last year, the Beatitudes have come alive to me like never before. In 2020 everything was magnified and not only did it give me fresh eyes to see what Jesus meant by poverty of spirit producing mourning, it also exposed how little time I've spent previously mourning and grieving over my own sin, never mind the sin of the world.

Depravity is tangible. It demeans and belittles. It incites hatred and division; a need for power and murderous tendencies. It convinces the world that God doesn't exist or at the very least, He doesn't care. It creates the illusion, like at Babel, that we can become our own God. The human heart will always seek what it desires; itself.

The prophet Jeremiah grieved for his people.

Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;

I mourn, and horror grips me.

Is there no balm in Gilead?

Is there no physician there?

Why then is there no healing

for the wound of my people? Jeremiah 8:21-22 NIV

This, beloved, should cause a deep mourning in every believer. A weeping over what breaks God's heart. Not a heartbreak over agenda or the things of this world, but a deep sadness over our own sin and a sorrow over a lost world.

How do we get to the place that David did when he agreed with God about sin?

In mourning he said:

"Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge." Psalm 51:4 NIV

And this led him to ask God to:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 NIV

Jesus, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, said that it's God's mourners who will be comforted. God's promise is to be near the brokenhearted; and it's His nearness that brings us comfort.