Blessed Are the Merciful

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Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 CSB

Merciful is easy to define but even more easy to identify. Mercy can be defined as sympathetic, compassionate, pardoning, refusing to punish, or forgiving. However, seeing mercy in action brings life to the definition. What does mercy look like? Over the last few weeks, the Eastern Coast of the United States has been pulverized by back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton. The evening news has highlighted the valiant effort of total strangers helping other total strangers in their devastation. Line crews from across the country are working endless hours to restore electricity, medical personnel ministering to the physical needs of communities, government, and non-profit organizations working together to provide housing for the homeless, and feeding stations providing food to the hungry.

Gary LeBlanc did the only thing he could do after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, he volunteered to cook food. What he witnessed during the aftermath of Katrina left him heartbroken. Gary and his wife Ann started Mercy Chefs in 2006. Chef Gary said that the Lord called them to “feed people; just go feed people.” Eighteen years later, from one disaster to the next, the LeBlancs’ organization has served over 27 million meals. LeBlanc said, “In the box is love, hope, and a way forward. In the box is all the love we can muster — fit into a box.”

“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6:6 NKJV) The world and the people within were far from perfect as Jesus taught his followers. He knew then as we need today, how to flourish in this imperfect world. Each of the beatitudes that Jesus gave that day were and are critical for living life. Glen Stassen writes, “Mercy is about an action, that is, a generous action that delivers someone from need or bondage.”

Eugene Peterson says in his book, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading, “Scripture does not present us with a moral code and tell us “Live up to this,” nor does it set out a system of doctrine and say “Think like this and you will live well.” Rather the biblical way is to tell a story and in the telling invite: “Live into this—this is what it looks like to be human in the God-made and God-ruled world; this is what is involved in becoming and maturing as a human being.”

Mercy reflects the beautiful act of forgiveness. Jesus continued his discourse that morning with the words, “For If you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14-15) Extending mercy to others can never be done within our own power or desires.

Corrie ten Boom survived the horrors of Ravensbruck in World War II but years later had to confront her own unforgiveness while speaking in a Munich church on forgiveness. It was in that church she encountered the guard who had inflicted so much pain on Corrie and her sister Betsie. The guard said, “But since that time I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein—will you forgive me?”

It is far easier to define mercy than to be merciful. It is easier to give examples of mercy than to be merciful. Extending the gift of mercy to someone who has wronged you goes beyond our abilities. Jesus realized the challenge as He outlined how a disciple of His could flourish in this world. Who should we extend mercy to? Yes, even that person! “There was no need for Jesus to elaborate. Our God is a merciful God and shows mercy continuously; the citizens of his kingdom must show mercy too.” (John Stott)

“And I stood there—I whose sins had every day to be forgiven—and could not. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?”

Jesus brought a new fresh spirit to the passage in Hosea as he spoke the words again in Matthew. The legalist would struggle, the bitter and angry would struggle, yet mercy would be the only way forward, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:13)

“Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.”

“But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who waver, save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 20-23)

“Jesus, help me! I prayed silently…And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bring tears to my eyes. I forgive you, brother! I cried. With all my heart.” (Corrie ten Boom on Forgiveness)

We too ask ourselves the question, how can I extend mercy to that person? Jesus gave himself as the model of Blessed are the Merciful. Thankfully, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Can you think of a more exciting time to be alive as a follower of Jesus? In a world that has seemingly grown darker, we can be a light for those wandering in the darkness. Jesus gave generations of followers a way to flourish as he taught them the Beatitudes. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ’care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.” Matthew 5:7 The Message

God is great!

 

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Keep your fork, the best is coming! This illustration has been told and re-told countless times by preachers in their sermons. Without a doubt, in my mind, the master teller of this illustration would have to be Glenn Boyd. Now the story goes that a woman learned that she only had a couple of months to live and her pastor came to visit. However, she was mostly interested in ensuring he knew what to do at her funeral. She made sure he knew what scripture verses to read, what she would wear, what songs would be sung, and who would speak. Plus, she wanted to make sure her favorite Bible would be placed in the casket.

As the pastor was getting ready to leave she made one additional request: to place a fork in her hand in the casket. He looked a little confused but the woman smiled and explained that she had been to more church functions than she could count where food was served. She said there was always one final instruction after the dishes were cleared, keep your fork. I always knew something better was coming, something substantial. You don’t need a fork for Jell-O or pudding but you did for a piece of cake or pie. She told him that when they see the fork, they will know I have something better now.

Glenn in his deep, rich voice told that story often in a way only he could. Glenn was a powerful singer, and could easily have been an opera singer but instead chose to “hunger and thirst for righteousness” as a missionary. Glenn was a missionary colleague and fellow Oklahoman where he and his family served in Kenya and it didn’t take long before you knew his heart and love for God. Glenn’s final years were not easy, filled with pain but he never stopped being hungry and thirsty for the things of God. I didn’t get to attend his funeral but I wonder if he had a fork in his hand.

Hunger and thirst are basic human needs regardless of who you are, where you are from, or what you do in life. It is a given that without food and water, a person will die.  Abraham Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs beginning with the very basics of life – air, food, water, shelter, clothing, warmth, sleep, and health. It is the very foundation of his pyramid of human needs.

Jesus begins his fourth Beatitude by simply saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.” The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 107, “For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.” (v9) Jesus understood that hunger and thirst for food was essential to survive in life but even more critical to flourish spiritually you had to hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.

Spiritual hunger should be a driving characteristic of all God’s people. John Stott in his classic book on the “Sermon on the Mount’ writes, “Christians are not like pagans, engrossed in the pursuit of possessions; what they have set themselves to ‘seek first’ is God’s kingdom and righteousness.”

Biblical righteousness is like a brilliant diamond viewed through a prism including a legal, moral, and social aspect. We will hunger and thirst for a right relationship with God. We will hunger and thirst for a personal character and conduct that pleases God. We will hunger and thirst for a social or cultural righteousness that fosters a right relationship with others in our community and world that glorifies God. “We search for God in order to find him with greater joy, and we find him in order to keep on searching with greater love.” (Augustine)

Martin Luther wrote, “The command to you is not to crawl into a corner or into the desert, but to run out, if that is where you have been, and to offer your hands and your feet and your whole body, and to wager everything you have and can do. A hunger and thirst for righteousness that can never be curbed or stopped or sated, one that looks for nothing and cares for nothing except the accomplishment and maintenance of the right, despising everything that hinders this end. If you cannot make the world completely pious then do what you can.”

This last Friday (October 18) marked Anti-Slavery Day. The creation of the day was to raise awareness of the almost 50 million people who are currently held in modern-day slavery. Modern slavery differs from the transatlantic slave trade of history but has the same core evil, the loss of freedom. Today it is identified as human trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, child slavery, forced and early marriage, and domestic servitude. “Slavery may be hidden but it exists and it’s controlling the lives of millions of people.” (Hope for Justice)

Jesus gave these teachings, not as forms of spiritual steps or requirements, but as ways his followers could flourish in this world. Luke recorded a beautiful model of how these first followers lived out this fourth Beatitude. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

Hunger and thirst are perpetual characteristics of Jesus’ disciples. What a difference our world could be if we started each day with that same hunger and thirst as those early followers.

“I am the bread of life, Jesus told them. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.” — John 6:35 CSB

God is great!

 

Blessed Are the Meek

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Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5 NIV

What makes a successful entrepreneur? Process-oriented, empathetic, self-motivated, persuasive, confident, risk-taker, and resilient are just a few of the characteristics and personality traits according to leading management experts. We tend to think of success-oriented personalities as bold, brash, bigger-than-life personalities that dominate the headlines.

There is nothing wrong with many of the personality traits used to describe successful leaders unless they lead to attitudes of self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness. However, I could not find the one trait that Jesus used to identify his disciples – meekness. Unfortunately, this term is not even used to describe church leaders.

The word “meek” has taken on some negative connotations in our modern language definitions, resulting in recent Bible translations using alternate words such as “humble” or “gentle.” These words probably express Jesus’ third Beatitude better for our modern world, yet there is something that makes the word meek stand out for Jesus’ disciples.

Sitting on the side of a mountain, Jesus taught a revolutionary message. It changed the way his disciples would live life. “The godless may boast and throw their weight about, yet real possession eludes their grasp. The meek, on the other hand, although they may be deprived and disenfranchised by men, yet because they know what it is to live and reign with Christ, can enjoy and even ’possess’ the earth, which belongs to Christ.” –John Stott

You may not be familiar with William Duma and rightly so since he wasn’t powerful, successful, or wealthy according to the world’s definitions. Yet the years of his earthly life could be defined as a flourishing life lived according to Jesus’ Beatitudes. Maybe it is only in death that another person can say of someone else that they were meek and inherited the earth. Born in South Africa in the early 1900s, he was a herdsman and had limited opportunities for schooling, yet God would use him to cross racial, economic, and political lines throughout his life.

Pastor Duma said in telling his story, “When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then with all His mighty power He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us.” (from Take Your Glory Lord by Mary Garnett)

Sydney Hudson-Reed wrote of Pastor Duma, “If we seek for a human explanation of his success we seek in vain. But pull aside the curtain on his prayer life and the answer is plain. Duma was essentially a man of prayer. Prayer had the prior claim on his life and time. He saturated his service with prayer, and intercession was the secret of his healing ministry. The many hours spent in the presence of God showed on his face and was evident in the power of his preaching and healing.”

Thomas Brooks, a 15th-century English non-conformist Puritan preacher, expressed the heart of a meek person, even as he faced pressure from the government to conform to the established church. “The humble soul will bless God under misery as well as under mercy, when God frowns as when he smiles, when he takes as when he gives, under crosses and losses as under blessings and mercies. The humble believer looks through all secondary causes, and sees the hand of God….The language of the humble soul is: ‘If it is your will that I should be in darkness, I will bless you; and if it is your will that I should be again in light, I will bless you; if you comfort me, I will bless; and if you afflict, I will bless; if you make me poor, I will bless; if you make me rich, I will bless.’”

Jesus’ words that morning were not a ‘three-points and poem’ type exhortation to the crowd but a lived-out example. He lived a life of being meek and showed how to flourish in that meekness. Matthew would record Jesus saying, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:29) Luke would record his exhortation to live a humble life, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

The bold, brash, and bigger-than-life personalities may get all the attention today, but the real end-of-life game changers will be the meek, humble, and gentle ones that will inherit the earth. The crowd that gathered that day to hear Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the meek” experienced the beginning of the promise that His followers “would inherit the earth.”

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” – I Corinthians 1:26-29 NIV

God is great!

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

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Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

“We lost just about everything we owned, and that included vehicles. But we have the most important thing: our lives. And we are forever and always going to be thankful for that.” (Joe Dancy telling CNN’s Laura Coates)

“I feel like I just survived the apocalypse.” (Nicole Rojas, a Vilas, NC resident told the BBC)

David Jones, a South Carolina father realized he might miss his daughter’s wedding due to impassable roads and made the remarkable decision to walk 17 miles to be there. (FOX Weather interview)

East Tennessee native Dolly Parton announced she would donate $1 million to help. “These are my people, these mountain-colored rainbows. These are my people, and this is my home.”

How does one capture the devastation of Hurricane Helene? 232 dead as of this writing, hundreds missing, damages potentially exceeding $100 Billion, survivors emotionally scarred forever, and whole communities destroyed and wiped away. This is the grim picture of six Southeastern states in the United States. There are not enough adjectives to describe the ongoing events of these last several days.

Jesus understood the loss and heartbreak people would face in life as he gently spoke the words we know as the Sermon on the Mount to those gathered that morning on a rural hillside. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” These words spoken in the second beatitude beautifully apply to the tragedy of Hurricane Helene, as they have for generations to those who mourn.

Jesus’ words on that hillside are the source of hope and encouragement. In these words, we can face the losses and know of God’s presence.  “O Lord…You know me more deeply and fully than I know myself. You love me with a greater love than I can love myself. You even offer me more than I can desire…Take my tired body, my confused mind, and my restless soul into your arms and give me rest, simple quiet rest.” (Henri Nouwen)

Mourning truly defines what all of us will face at some point in life. The great hope is that we don’t have to endure it alone. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalms 34:18 NLT

Jonathan Pennington writes in his commentary on The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing, “As John Calvin observes,  most people hold to the erroneous belief that the happy person is the one who is free from annoyance, attains all his wishes, and leads a joyful and easy life; the mistaken idea is that true happiness is about our present emotional state…The disciples of Christ must learn the philosophy of placing their happiness beyond the world, and above the afflictions of the flesh…The Beatitudes is to show that those are not unhappy who are oppressed by the reproaches of the wicked, and subject to various calamities.”

I honestly do not know how to face the unrelenting struggles of tragedies, stand at an open grave, or face the pressures of life without the loving comfort of God. Isaiah summed up my thoughts when he wrote, “I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4 CSB)

While mourning, there is the comfort of the One who created us, who loves us and will be there through it all. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.” (Isaiah 26: 3-4 NLT)

I hope you find these lyrics from Phil Wickham’s song, Hymn of Heaven words that can express your thoughts and sentiments.

“How I long to breathe the air of Heaven

Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity

There will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord

And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear
In the end, we’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears…”

(https://youtu.be/bqxtFUwM3-o?si=ZT6BBS-dJ_m6cqeD)

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” (Matt 5:4 The Message)

God is great!