Christ’s Yoke
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
Jesus often used illustrations and metaphors from agriculture in His teaching. He knew that the word-pictures He painted would resonate with His listeners. There may be such a reference in the third Beatitude.
When a young ox needed to be taught to work the fields with a plough, it would often be yoked together with an older animal. The youngster would waste its strength trying to get away from its restraints; the old timer would use those restraints to serve its master, and so gain its reward. The older ox would be described as ‘meek.’ This is a helpful illustration for us. The younger ox represents the way in which young Christians often strain and hurt themselves; the older ox represents the steady, directed strength that seeks the Master’s will. To be meek is to have strength under control. Serving God, we learn to pull in His direction, not ours. Following Christ, we strive to become gentle and humble, using whatever gifts we have to serve the purposes of the Kingdom.
“Come to me,” says Jesus, “all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”[1] In contrast to the first two Beatitudes, the third is not negative, it is positive. It does not ask us to put something down, it encourages us to pick something up. As we develop true poverty of spirit, and as we mourn over our sin, we slip the yoke of humility over our shoulders, take up our burden daily, and learn to follow Him.
Heavenly Father,
In Your Son I have witnessed the obedience that does not look back,
and the determination that pushes through all difficulties.
Let the mind that was in Christ Jesus be also in me.
May I have hope enough to push on,
and faith enough to look forward to the glorious future
that You have in store for those who love You.
In His strength alone.
Amen.
[1] Matthew 11:28-30
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Blessed are...
Moses
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
In a word association game, you would wait forever to place together ‘meek’ and ‘Moses.’ Our mental image of the leader of the Israelites, demanding of Pharaoh that he should “let my people go”[1] contains nothing of meekness as it is popularly understood. The man who led the Hebrews through the divinely divided waters of the Red Sea, or for forty years in the wilderness, does not seem to fit the description ‘meek.’ Yet, in Numbers we read that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”[2] The word that is used is ‘meek.’
It had not always been so. As a young man, Moses had been full of his own importance, rash and impetuous, given to angry outbursts. One day, unable to control his indignation at the mistreatment of a fellow Hebrew, Moses killed an Egyptian and hid the man’s body in the sand.[3] In trying to settle an argument, or in rescuing the seven daughters of Midian, Moses always tried to do things in his own strength. It took forty years in a desert place, tending to flocks, separated from his own people, before God molded Moses’ heart to His will. For forty years, Moses had time to consider the poverty of his spirit, and to grieve over his sins. Only then did he learn that true strength comes from submission to God.
True meekness requires that our pride be broken. When we are meek, we no longer take matters into our own hands, we place them into God’s. Our strength is not diminished, in fact it is enhanced as we learn to channel it appropriately. Moses learned this, and was still considered both the father of his nation’s freedom, and the humblest of men. He learned to turn from reliance upon self, and to rely totally upon his God. That is what it means to be meek.
Break me, mighty God, on the anvil of Your will.
Take my arrogance and my foolish pride;
take my willful heart and bend it to Your purposes.
May I be as clay in Your hands.
Like a potter, mold me into a simple vessel fit only to serve.
In the name of Jesus, the Servant-King.
Amen.
[1] Exodus 7:16
[2] Numbers 12:3
[3] Exodus 2:12
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
In a word association game, you would wait forever to place together ‘meek’ and ‘Moses.’ Our mental image of the leader of the Israelites, demanding of Pharaoh that he should “let my people go”[1] contains nothing of meekness as it is popularly understood. The man who led the Hebrews through the divinely divided waters of the Red Sea, or for forty years in the wilderness, does not seem to fit the description ‘meek.’ Yet, in Numbers we read that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”[2] The word that is used is ‘meek.’
It had not always been so. As a young man, Moses had been full of his own importance, rash and impetuous, given to angry outbursts. One day, unable to control his indignation at the mistreatment of a fellow Hebrew, Moses killed an Egyptian and hid the man’s body in the sand.[3] In trying to settle an argument, or in rescuing the seven daughters of Midian, Moses always tried to do things in his own strength. It took forty years in a desert place, tending to flocks, separated from his own people, before God molded Moses’ heart to His will. For forty years, Moses had time to consider the poverty of his spirit, and to grieve over his sins. Only then did he learn that true strength comes from submission to God.
True meekness requires that our pride be broken. When we are meek, we no longer take matters into our own hands, we place them into God’s. Our strength is not diminished, in fact it is enhanced as we learn to channel it appropriately. Moses learned this, and was still considered both the father of his nation’s freedom, and the humblest of men. He learned to turn from reliance upon self, and to rely totally upon his God. That is what it means to be meek.
Break me, mighty God, on the anvil of Your will.
Take my arrogance and my foolish pride;
take my willful heart and bend it to Your purposes.
May I be as clay in Your hands.
Like a potter, mold me into a simple vessel fit only to serve.
In the name of Jesus, the Servant-King.
Amen.
[1] Exodus 7:16
[2] Numbers 12:3
[3] Exodus 2:12
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Blessed are...
Gentle Strength
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
In classical Greek, the word which we translate as ‘meek’ often simply means ‘gentle.’ A wild animal that had been tamed could be described as meek. It had not lost any of its strength. It remained capable of doing great harm to its owner. But the animal was considered meek because its strength had been taken under control. The same word was used for a gentle breeze. The wind is capable of great ferocity and of terrible destruction but, when gentle, it can also bring pleasure on a humid day. Aristotle once wrote that meekness is the mean between excessive anger and excessive passivity. It is strength under control.
When we are meek we do not allow ourselves to be ruled by our lower nature. It is not that we are passionless, but that our passion is channeled for good. We can become quite animated when we think about injustices that need to be challenged; but we will often stay silent when an injustice has been done to us. We are not so in love with ourselves that we must win every argument; we rejoice in the success of others. We are confident that patience will lead us to God’s good purposes for our lives. We depend upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit, praying often for the gift of discernment, exercising every day the fruit of the Holy Spirit: peace, patience, and self-control.[1] Our greatest desire, though, is not that we should be self-controlled, but that we should be God-controlled. Gentle in all things, humble and unassuming – these are the characteristics of the Kingdom that will grow in the heart of one who is meek.
Gentle Savior,
Make me gentle, too.
Make me more ready to listen than to speak.
Keep my ears open for the promptings of Your Spirit.
Keep me obedient to Your will.
Then, as I live out the Gospel,
may I be strong as I stand against sin,
but gentle with sinners.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.
[1] Galatians 5:23
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
In classical Greek, the word which we translate as ‘meek’ often simply means ‘gentle.’ A wild animal that had been tamed could be described as meek. It had not lost any of its strength. It remained capable of doing great harm to its owner. But the animal was considered meek because its strength had been taken under control. The same word was used for a gentle breeze. The wind is capable of great ferocity and of terrible destruction but, when gentle, it can also bring pleasure on a humid day. Aristotle once wrote that meekness is the mean between excessive anger and excessive passivity. It is strength under control.
When we are meek we do not allow ourselves to be ruled by our lower nature. It is not that we are passionless, but that our passion is channeled for good. We can become quite animated when we think about injustices that need to be challenged; but we will often stay silent when an injustice has been done to us. We are not so in love with ourselves that we must win every argument; we rejoice in the success of others. We are confident that patience will lead us to God’s good purposes for our lives. We depend upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit, praying often for the gift of discernment, exercising every day the fruit of the Holy Spirit: peace, patience, and self-control.[1] Our greatest desire, though, is not that we should be self-controlled, but that we should be God-controlled. Gentle in all things, humble and unassuming – these are the characteristics of the Kingdom that will grow in the heart of one who is meek.
Gentle Savior,
Make me gentle, too.
Make me more ready to listen than to speak.
Keep my ears open for the promptings of Your Spirit.
Keep me obedient to Your will.
Then, as I live out the Gospel,
may I be strong as I stand against sin,
but gentle with sinners.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.
[1] Galatians 5:23
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Blessed are...
Meekness Misunderstood
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
No other Beatitude has drawn such incredulity or derision as the third. The very notion that the meek shall inherit the earth seems counter-intuitive. In our world this simply does not happen. Those who sit in the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies have not acquired their oak-paneled offices or their large salaries through deference. Wars are won by those who know how to fight, not by those who practice gentle humility. From the school yard to the field of battle, success belongs to the one who is strong, aggressive, and confident. If the meek survive long enough to inherit anything, it will be at the whim of whoever wears the victor’s crown.
There are two problems, however, with this popular assessment. First, it is a gross misunderstanding of what it means to be meek. Second, it is a distortion of what it means to win. Meekness has nothing to do with weakness. A meek person need not be shy or withdrawn, spineless or indecisive. A meek person need not be known for a lack of confidence, or for cowardice. To be meek is not to be timid, or to accommodate aggression. So what is it?
Meekness is the effect of poverty of spirit, and of mourning over sin. It is not quick to defend itself; it has the confidence to be secure. To be meek is to possess the humble strength that places all of its trust in our Covenant-Keeping God. It is slow to anger, swift to listen, and to love. Meekness knows that the greatest power in the world is not to be found in the barrel of a gun, but in God; meekness knows that the greatest victory of all time was won not upon a battlefield, but on a Cross.
Mighty God,
Awesome in power, splendid in might,
I acknowledge Your greatness and sing Your praise.
Since I fear You, let me be afraid of nothing and no-one else.
Give to me, I pray, the spirit, not of timidity but of strength.
So may I be bold to witness to Your goodness and Your love,
and to rest forever in Your providential care.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
No other Beatitude has drawn such incredulity or derision as the third. The very notion that the meek shall inherit the earth seems counter-intuitive. In our world this simply does not happen. Those who sit in the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies have not acquired their oak-paneled offices or their large salaries through deference. Wars are won by those who know how to fight, not by those who practice gentle humility. From the school yard to the field of battle, success belongs to the one who is strong, aggressive, and confident. If the meek survive long enough to inherit anything, it will be at the whim of whoever wears the victor’s crown.
There are two problems, however, with this popular assessment. First, it is a gross misunderstanding of what it means to be meek. Second, it is a distortion of what it means to win. Meekness has nothing to do with weakness. A meek person need not be shy or withdrawn, spineless or indecisive. A meek person need not be known for a lack of confidence, or for cowardice. To be meek is not to be timid, or to accommodate aggression. So what is it?
Meekness is the effect of poverty of spirit, and of mourning over sin. It is not quick to defend itself; it has the confidence to be secure. To be meek is to possess the humble strength that places all of its trust in our Covenant-Keeping God. It is slow to anger, swift to listen, and to love. Meekness knows that the greatest power in the world is not to be found in the barrel of a gun, but in God; meekness knows that the greatest victory of all time was won not upon a battlefield, but on a Cross.
Mighty God,
Awesome in power, splendid in might,
I acknowledge Your greatness and sing Your praise.
Since I fear You, let me be afraid of nothing and no-one else.
Give to me, I pray, the spirit, not of timidity but of strength.
So may I be bold to witness to Your goodness and Your love,
and to rest forever in Your providential care.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Blessed are...
The Consolation of Israel
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
The old man waited in the temple courts for many years. Moved by the Spirit, Simeon searched diligently for the child who would fulfill the promise he had received. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the long-awaited One, the Lord’s Messiah. Righteous and devout, the old man waited, searching for, but not finding, the consolation of Israel. Then, He came, without warning or fanfare or applause, born of peasant stock, in Bethlehem. And Simeon sang, “Sovereign God, as You have promised, now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation…”[1]
Salvation did, indeed, come through the Hebrew child who lived and died and lives again. He came, in response to the hopes and dreams of the people of the Old Covenant to usher in a new. Within that New Covenant, Christ would be the consolation of His people. In direct fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus came “to comfort all who mourn.”[2] The consolation of redeeming love embraced those who wept for their sins. In human flesh, God’s gracious mercy brought tears, not of repentance but of sheer joy, to the old man who held Him. In this child, the blessing of God had come. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”[3]
Comforting God,
Come, by Your Holy Spirit, to continue the work of Jesus.
Soften my heart, made hard by sin.
Break it against the anvil of Your word.
Then, chastened and filled with sorrow,
enfold me in Your forgiveness
and send me on my way, rejoicing.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus.
Amen.
[1] Luke 2:29-30
[2] Isaiah 61:2
[3] Isaiah 40:1-2
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
The old man waited in the temple courts for many years. Moved by the Spirit, Simeon searched diligently for the child who would fulfill the promise he had received. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the long-awaited One, the Lord’s Messiah. Righteous and devout, the old man waited, searching for, but not finding, the consolation of Israel. Then, He came, without warning or fanfare or applause, born of peasant stock, in Bethlehem. And Simeon sang, “Sovereign God, as You have promised, now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation…”[1]
Salvation did, indeed, come through the Hebrew child who lived and died and lives again. He came, in response to the hopes and dreams of the people of the Old Covenant to usher in a new. Within that New Covenant, Christ would be the consolation of His people. In direct fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus came “to comfort all who mourn.”[2] The consolation of redeeming love embraced those who wept for their sins. In human flesh, God’s gracious mercy brought tears, not of repentance but of sheer joy, to the old man who held Him. In this child, the blessing of God had come. “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”[3]
Comforting God,
Come, by Your Holy Spirit, to continue the work of Jesus.
Soften my heart, made hard by sin.
Break it against the anvil of Your word.
Then, chastened and filled with sorrow,
enfold me in Your forgiveness
and send me on my way, rejoicing.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus.
Amen.
[1] Luke 2:29-30
[2] Isaiah 61:2
[3] Isaiah 40:1-2
Monday, February 23, 2009
Blessed are...
Out of the Depths
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
In the Kingdom of God we do not rush to repentance. The father ran to the Prodigal Son, not the other way around. God is anxious to heal us and to restore us to a right relationship with Him; but God’s urgency does not preclude our pain over the rebellion that separated us from our Maker. If we do not examine our hearts and learn to weep, not only over our abandonment of God’s will, but also over our repeated failures, then the diagnosis will be incomplete. Only when we know the seriousness of our predicament, and the lengths to which God went to rescue us, will we appreciate the blessedness of walking with Him in forgiveness and in freedom.
In Psalm 130, the author is almost overcome by the seriousness of sin. “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;” he says, “O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?”[1] He is filled with grief and shame; but he does not remain, locked in mourning. He moves on. “But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.”[2] The last word is a shock. We expect ‘love,’ not ‘fear.’ But the psalmist’s response is appropriate. We fear God, not because He is a God of judgment, but because He is gracious and good. We are afraid because we may take this wonderful God for granted. It is the vision of grace that makes us mourn and that leads to blessing. The law may convict us, but grace melts our hearts.
God of law and of grace,
I praise You.
You have shown me what is good and right, noble and true.
Your word of revelation holds a mirror to my life,
and I do not like what I see.
But You have also shown me the depths of Your love.
In spite of my sin, You stoop to welcome me home.
I will praise You forever.
Through Christ my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Psalm 130:1-3
[2] Psalm 130:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
In the Kingdom of God we do not rush to repentance. The father ran to the Prodigal Son, not the other way around. God is anxious to heal us and to restore us to a right relationship with Him; but God’s urgency does not preclude our pain over the rebellion that separated us from our Maker. If we do not examine our hearts and learn to weep, not only over our abandonment of God’s will, but also over our repeated failures, then the diagnosis will be incomplete. Only when we know the seriousness of our predicament, and the lengths to which God went to rescue us, will we appreciate the blessedness of walking with Him in forgiveness and in freedom.
In Psalm 130, the author is almost overcome by the seriousness of sin. “Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;” he says, “O Lord, hear my voice. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?”[1] He is filled with grief and shame; but he does not remain, locked in mourning. He moves on. “But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.”[2] The last word is a shock. We expect ‘love,’ not ‘fear.’ But the psalmist’s response is appropriate. We fear God, not because He is a God of judgment, but because He is gracious and good. We are afraid because we may take this wonderful God for granted. It is the vision of grace that makes us mourn and that leads to blessing. The law may convict us, but grace melts our hearts.
God of law and of grace,
I praise You.
You have shown me what is good and right, noble and true.
Your word of revelation holds a mirror to my life,
and I do not like what I see.
But You have also shown me the depths of Your love.
In spite of my sin, You stoop to welcome me home.
I will praise You forever.
Through Christ my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Psalm 130:1-3
[2] Psalm 130:4
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Blessed are...
Grim or Glib?
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Some churches have bought into the entertainment lifestyle of the world. Desperate to attract newcomers these churches promote themselves as places of light and laughter. With perfect smiles their representatives beam from every conceivable media: “Come here and be happy. Join us and your troubles will disappear. We have so much fun at our church.”
In some respects the “Be Happy” church is a reaction against an earlier “Be Miserable” standard. At one time, apparently, churches were required to use advertising methods that were always thirty years out of date. Ushers were trained to look like they had just lost their life-savings. Greeters were better at repulsing than at attracting. Stark sanctuaries, uncomfortable pews, sad-looking saints looking down from insipid stained glass, the sepia-tinted experience called ‘church’ did not inspire an abundance of euphoria.
Nevertheless, the joyless characteristic of yesterday does not excuse the excesses of today. When we refuse to mention sin, for fear of offending anyone, we sell the Gospel short. When we fail to teach repentance, we fail to prepare our young people for the realities of failure. When we ignore the need for contrition, we are left with a feel-good religion that will not save.
There is not much that is attractive about a grim, glum, cheerless Christianity that can only complain about ‘the crosses we all must bear.’ There is even less attractive about a glib, grinning, cheerful Christianity that does not see that the Cross He bore was the consequence of our sin.
Holy God,
Remind us of the seriousness of our sin.
Convict us of our abandonment of Your law.
Give us real contrition for our offenses.
Then shall we sing with unabated, genuine joy
of the wonder of Your salvation,
prepared for us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Some churches have bought into the entertainment lifestyle of the world. Desperate to attract newcomers these churches promote themselves as places of light and laughter. With perfect smiles their representatives beam from every conceivable media: “Come here and be happy. Join us and your troubles will disappear. We have so much fun at our church.”
In some respects the “Be Happy” church is a reaction against an earlier “Be Miserable” standard. At one time, apparently, churches were required to use advertising methods that were always thirty years out of date. Ushers were trained to look like they had just lost their life-savings. Greeters were better at repulsing than at attracting. Stark sanctuaries, uncomfortable pews, sad-looking saints looking down from insipid stained glass, the sepia-tinted experience called ‘church’ did not inspire an abundance of euphoria.
Nevertheless, the joyless characteristic of yesterday does not excuse the excesses of today. When we refuse to mention sin, for fear of offending anyone, we sell the Gospel short. When we fail to teach repentance, we fail to prepare our young people for the realities of failure. When we ignore the need for contrition, we are left with a feel-good religion that will not save.
There is not much that is attractive about a grim, glum, cheerless Christianity that can only complain about ‘the crosses we all must bear.’ There is even less attractive about a glib, grinning, cheerful Christianity that does not see that the Cross He bore was the consequence of our sin.
Holy God,
Remind us of the seriousness of our sin.
Convict us of our abandonment of Your law.
Give us real contrition for our offenses.
Then shall we sing with unabated, genuine joy
of the wonder of Your salvation,
prepared for us in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Blessed are...
Easy Laughter
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
The world around us does not value mourning. If you have a reputation for taking sorrow seriously, it is likely that someone will recommend that you see a psychiatrist. Popular culture sees laughter as humanity’s natural, or most desirable state. Those who mourn over their souls, or grieve over the world, are commonly rejected as cranks. Surely no sane person could find value in sorrow?
Of course there is much to be said in favor of laughter. It’s healthy not to take things too seriously. If we allow ourselves a smile at our troubles then generally they are diminished. At its best, a smile is born of faith. All kinds of difficulties and dangers may come our way, but we can afford to smile at them if we are secure in our God. Despair is never really an option for one who trusts in Christ.
However, the laughter of the world usually has very little to do with the smile of faith. The world laughs indiscriminately, often as a means of escape. Everything becomes a party. There are no boundaries to what the late night talk show hosts will find amusing. Respect flies out of the window. The world laughs when it really ought to weep. Like a drug that needs to be taken in ever larger doses in order to achieve the same result, entertainment drives our culture to greater and greater excess. No institution is exempt. No human emotion or experience is incapable of being manipulated for the sake of a cheap laugh. We are losing the ability to mourn. We are laughing all the way to the grave.
Father God,
We have heard that there is a time to laugh,
and a time to refrain from laughing;
a time to weep,
and a time to dry our tears.
Give us the discernment of the Spirit,
that we might know when to mourn,
and when to rejoice.
For the sake of Christ our Lord.
Amen.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
The world around us does not value mourning. If you have a reputation for taking sorrow seriously, it is likely that someone will recommend that you see a psychiatrist. Popular culture sees laughter as humanity’s natural, or most desirable state. Those who mourn over their souls, or grieve over the world, are commonly rejected as cranks. Surely no sane person could find value in sorrow?
Of course there is much to be said in favor of laughter. It’s healthy not to take things too seriously. If we allow ourselves a smile at our troubles then generally they are diminished. At its best, a smile is born of faith. All kinds of difficulties and dangers may come our way, but we can afford to smile at them if we are secure in our God. Despair is never really an option for one who trusts in Christ.
However, the laughter of the world usually has very little to do with the smile of faith. The world laughs indiscriminately, often as a means of escape. Everything becomes a party. There are no boundaries to what the late night talk show hosts will find amusing. Respect flies out of the window. The world laughs when it really ought to weep. Like a drug that needs to be taken in ever larger doses in order to achieve the same result, entertainment drives our culture to greater and greater excess. No institution is exempt. No human emotion or experience is incapable of being manipulated for the sake of a cheap laugh. We are losing the ability to mourn. We are laughing all the way to the grave.
Father God,
We have heard that there is a time to laugh,
and a time to refrain from laughing;
a time to weep,
and a time to dry our tears.
Give us the discernment of the Spirit,
that we might know when to mourn,
and when to rejoice.
For the sake of Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Blessed are...
Tears
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Psalm 119 speaks of the pain caused by sin. The author writes, “streams of tears flow from my eyes, for Your law is not obeyed.”[1] He mourns for the sins of those who have abandoned God’s commandments and ignored His Covenant. He is not alone. The prophet Ezekiel tells how those who are faithful “grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done (in Jerusalem).”[2] Jeremiah, sometimes called the weeping prophet, cries, “Oh that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night…”[3] Then, remember how Jesus wept over the city.[4] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” He cried, “you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you.”[5]
Mourning over sin is not, however, restricted to mourning over the sin of others. Romans chapter three reminds us to weep over our souls, our words, and our deeds.[6] We should certainly mourn when we consider the consequences of rebellion for others, but we should not forget our own offenses. Paul wrote, with tears, about those who live as enemies of the Cross of Christ,[7] but he also lamented his own shortcomings. “When I want to do good,” he wrote, “evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body… making me a prisoner of the law of sin… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”[8] In the very next verse Paul answers his own question. His sorrow over sin precedes his celebration of salvation. “Thanks be to God – though Jesus Christ our Lord!”[9]
Lord Jesus,
With tears I come before the mercy seat,
acknowledging my failure and my faults.
You gently lift my face.
I see Your smile.
My tears of repentance become tears of joy.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
[1] Psalm 119:136
[2] Ezekiel 9:4
[3] Jeremiah 9:1
[4] Luke 19:41
[5] Matthew 23:37
[6] Romans 3:10-17
[7] Philippians 3:18
[8] Romans 7:21-24
[9] Romans 7:25
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Psalm 119 speaks of the pain caused by sin. The author writes, “streams of tears flow from my eyes, for Your law is not obeyed.”[1] He mourns for the sins of those who have abandoned God’s commandments and ignored His Covenant. He is not alone. The prophet Ezekiel tells how those who are faithful “grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done (in Jerusalem).”[2] Jeremiah, sometimes called the weeping prophet, cries, “Oh that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night…”[3] Then, remember how Jesus wept over the city.[4] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” He cried, “you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you.”[5]
Mourning over sin is not, however, restricted to mourning over the sin of others. Romans chapter three reminds us to weep over our souls, our words, and our deeds.[6] We should certainly mourn when we consider the consequences of rebellion for others, but we should not forget our own offenses. Paul wrote, with tears, about those who live as enemies of the Cross of Christ,[7] but he also lamented his own shortcomings. “When I want to do good,” he wrote, “evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body… making me a prisoner of the law of sin… What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”[8] In the very next verse Paul answers his own question. His sorrow over sin precedes his celebration of salvation. “Thanks be to God – though Jesus Christ our Lord!”[9]
Lord Jesus,
With tears I come before the mercy seat,
acknowledging my failure and my faults.
You gently lift my face.
I see Your smile.
My tears of repentance become tears of joy.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
[1] Psalm 119:136
[2] Ezekiel 9:4
[3] Jeremiah 9:1
[4] Luke 19:41
[5] Matthew 23:37
[6] Romans 3:10-17
[7] Philippians 3:18
[8] Romans 7:21-24
[9] Romans 7:25
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Blessed are...
Woe to You
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Luke adds to the blessings of the Beatitudes, as recorded by Matthew, with a series of ‘woes.’ A woe is a curse. It is the opposite of a blessing. Jesus shows us both the way to receive God’s blessing, and the way to be accursed. We are cursed when we are rich, because our riches are often substitutes for those things that will bring us comfort when we need them most, things like true repentance and a living relationship with Christ.[1] We are cursed when we are well fed now,[2] because our bellies become our gods, and we do not realize that we should be hungry for righteousness. We are cursed when all men speak well of us now,[3] because that means that we are only telling them what they want to hear; but if we tell them what they need to hear then we shall be far less popular. Then, Jesus says, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.”[4]
The question is not whether we will mourn and weep, but when. Will we take the time, now, to do an honest inventory and, admitting our failures, turn to the Lord in our grief over our superficiality and our sin? Or will we wait until we stand before the Lord on Judgment Day? If we have failed to deal with our sins now, He will deal with them for us on that Day. For those who have mourned over sin and sought forgiveness, there is the promise that our tears will be wiped away. But for those who have laughed now, there will be weeping and wailing, the hell of an eternity of regret. Laughter is good; but it must be appropriate, and at the right time, otherwise it is only a prelude to tears.
Mighty God,
Awesome in power and in love, keep me in the center of Your will.
When I consider the beauty of Your world,
and the faithfulness of Your Covenant,
and the wonder of Your salvation,
and the glory of my heavenly home, teach me to laugh.
When I consider what I have done to Your world,
how I have broken Your Covenant,
and presumed upon Your salvation,
and boasted of my fitness for heaven, teach me to weep.
Then, weeping or laughing, teach me to trust.
Through Christ my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Luke 6:24
[2] Luke 6:25
[3] Luke 6:26
[4] Luke 6:25
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Luke adds to the blessings of the Beatitudes, as recorded by Matthew, with a series of ‘woes.’ A woe is a curse. It is the opposite of a blessing. Jesus shows us both the way to receive God’s blessing, and the way to be accursed. We are cursed when we are rich, because our riches are often substitutes for those things that will bring us comfort when we need them most, things like true repentance and a living relationship with Christ.[1] We are cursed when we are well fed now,[2] because our bellies become our gods, and we do not realize that we should be hungry for righteousness. We are cursed when all men speak well of us now,[3] because that means that we are only telling them what they want to hear; but if we tell them what they need to hear then we shall be far less popular. Then, Jesus says, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.”[4]
The question is not whether we will mourn and weep, but when. Will we take the time, now, to do an honest inventory and, admitting our failures, turn to the Lord in our grief over our superficiality and our sin? Or will we wait until we stand before the Lord on Judgment Day? If we have failed to deal with our sins now, He will deal with them for us on that Day. For those who have mourned over sin and sought forgiveness, there is the promise that our tears will be wiped away. But for those who have laughed now, there will be weeping and wailing, the hell of an eternity of regret. Laughter is good; but it must be appropriate, and at the right time, otherwise it is only a prelude to tears.
Mighty God,
Awesome in power and in love, keep me in the center of Your will.
When I consider the beauty of Your world,
and the faithfulness of Your Covenant,
and the wonder of Your salvation,
and the glory of my heavenly home, teach me to laugh.
When I consider what I have done to Your world,
how I have broken Your Covenant,
and presumed upon Your salvation,
and boasted of my fitness for heaven, teach me to weep.
Then, weeping or laughing, teach me to trust.
Through Christ my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Luke 6:24
[2] Luke 6:25
[3] Luke 6:26
[4] Luke 6:25
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Blessed are...
Paradox
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
There are two, startling paradoxes in this brief text. First, there is the paradox that we are to find blessing in sorrow. Surely, this cannot be true? How can our grief become an opportunity to find joy? Mourning over our loss, as a natural human experience, is only therapeutic when it enables us to exorcise the pain that is caused by parting. If there is something cathartic about mourning, it can only be that tears help us to express buried emotions that could, otherwise, cause us harm. No-one goes looking for a reason to mourn, so how can mourning be valued as a source of blessing?
The answer to the problem is that we need to broaden our understanding of what it means to mourn. When we read this Beatitude we tend to associate Jesus’ words with mourning following bereavement. In fact the words are often used in this way, and rightfully so, because the comfort of the Gospel is a source of blessing at a time of loss. However, Jesus is not really speaking of sorrow over parting, but of sorrow over sin. The first Beatitude reminds Christians that there is value in a proper assessment of our spiritual poverty, in that we are driven to God as the only source of salvation. The second Beatitude speaks to the blessings that can be ours when we learn to grieve over our sinful nature. This is not perverse, but it is paradoxical. Yet the greatest, and second, paradox is this: that when we mourn over our offenses, repenting of them with tears, then we find comfort in the very One against whom we have offended. He is the One who turns our weeping into joy.
Lord Christ,
When I have ignored Your claim upon my life, forgive me.
When I have stood, aloof, from Your expectations, forgive me.
When I have pretended not to be entangled in the snares and sins of this world,
save me from myself.
In repentance and faith may I find Your true salvation.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
There are two, startling paradoxes in this brief text. First, there is the paradox that we are to find blessing in sorrow. Surely, this cannot be true? How can our grief become an opportunity to find joy? Mourning over our loss, as a natural human experience, is only therapeutic when it enables us to exorcise the pain that is caused by parting. If there is something cathartic about mourning, it can only be that tears help us to express buried emotions that could, otherwise, cause us harm. No-one goes looking for a reason to mourn, so how can mourning be valued as a source of blessing?
The answer to the problem is that we need to broaden our understanding of what it means to mourn. When we read this Beatitude we tend to associate Jesus’ words with mourning following bereavement. In fact the words are often used in this way, and rightfully so, because the comfort of the Gospel is a source of blessing at a time of loss. However, Jesus is not really speaking of sorrow over parting, but of sorrow over sin. The first Beatitude reminds Christians that there is value in a proper assessment of our spiritual poverty, in that we are driven to God as the only source of salvation. The second Beatitude speaks to the blessings that can be ours when we learn to grieve over our sinful nature. This is not perverse, but it is paradoxical. Yet the greatest, and second, paradox is this: that when we mourn over our offenses, repenting of them with tears, then we find comfort in the very One against whom we have offended. He is the One who turns our weeping into joy.
Lord Christ,
When I have ignored Your claim upon my life, forgive me.
When I have stood, aloof, from Your expectations, forgive me.
When I have pretended not to be entangled in the snares and sins of this world,
save me from myself.
In repentance and faith may I find Your true salvation.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Blessed are...
Rich, Yet Poor
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” wrote Paul to the Corinthians, “that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”[1] The poverty that Christ embraced was our human condition. He exchanged the courts of heaven for a stable in Bethlehem, and for a hill called Calvary. “And being found in human likeness, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a Cross.”[2] Christ gave up the power that had flung the stars into space; He willingly made Himself nothing in order to reach those who could not help themselves.
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name that is above every name.”[3] Our Lord humbled Himself in obedience to His Father’s will; but God raised Him up. Now the humiliation of the Cross has been exchanged for the hallelujah of heaven. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[4] The Crucified Savior reigns.
And we, if we will recognize our spiritual poverty and turn to Him in repentance and faith, will be raised also. Restored to our Father’s side, we enjoy the privileges reserved for citizens of His Kingdom. We have peace with God, and one day we shall reign with Him in the heavenly Kingdom, where there shall be no more hunger or thirst or tears, and our poverty shall be swallowed up in praise.
Risen, reigning Lord,
I praise You.
You left Your Father’s throne - for my sake.
You endured the limitations of human existence - for my sake.
You suffered and died – for my sake.
You rose again, to lift me from the dust and to set my feet upon the stars.
For all this, and so much more, I will praise You.
Amen.
[1] II Corinthians 8:9
[2] Philippians 2:8
[3] Philippians 2:9
[4] I Peter 2:7
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” wrote Paul to the Corinthians, “that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”[1] The poverty that Christ embraced was our human condition. He exchanged the courts of heaven for a stable in Bethlehem, and for a hill called Calvary. “And being found in human likeness, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a Cross.”[2] Christ gave up the power that had flung the stars into space; He willingly made Himself nothing in order to reach those who could not help themselves.
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name that is above every name.”[3] Our Lord humbled Himself in obedience to His Father’s will; but God raised Him up. Now the humiliation of the Cross has been exchanged for the hallelujah of heaven. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[4] The Crucified Savior reigns.
And we, if we will recognize our spiritual poverty and turn to Him in repentance and faith, will be raised also. Restored to our Father’s side, we enjoy the privileges reserved for citizens of His Kingdom. We have peace with God, and one day we shall reign with Him in the heavenly Kingdom, where there shall be no more hunger or thirst or tears, and our poverty shall be swallowed up in praise.
Risen, reigning Lord,
I praise You.
You left Your Father’s throne - for my sake.
You endured the limitations of human existence - for my sake.
You suffered and died – for my sake.
You rose again, to lift me from the dust and to set my feet upon the stars.
For all this, and so much more, I will praise You.
Amen.
[1] II Corinthians 8:9
[2] Philippians 2:8
[3] Philippians 2:9
[4] I Peter 2:7
Monday, February 16, 2009
Blessed are...
Like a Child
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
It is as children that we inherit the Kingdom of heaven, not as adults, careful of our rights, but as little children, for whom every good thing comes as a gift. When parents brought their children to Jesus, that He might touch them and bless them, the disciples were indignant and tried to push them away. Jesus would have none of it. “Let the children come to me,” He said, “and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”[1]
We like to think that it was the innocence of the children that endeared them to Jesus. We tell ourselves that, if only we could recapture the same wide-eyed innocence, then we could inherit the Kingdom. The problem is that we are not innocent. Neither were the children. We are all marked by the consequences of Adam’s shame. We all “fall short of the glory of God.”[2] It is not innocence that will save us. We’re all out of innocence.
Jesus commended the children as worthy of the Kingdom not because of their innocence, but because of their knowing dependence. Mark called them ‘little children.’ They were probably not much more than toddlers. They could not feed themselves, or care for themselves. Left to their own devices they would die. And so would we – eternally. Our spiritual poverty is actually a source of blessing, in that it forces us into the arms of the only One who can save us. “How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us,” writes John, “that we should be called children of God.”[3]
Father God,
As a child I come, trusting and eager,
ready to run into Your sheltering, waiting arms,
anxious to receive Your blessing.
As a child, keep me coming, listening and learning,
growing in Your grace,
anxious always to be a bearer of the blessing of Christ.
In His name.
Amen.
[1] Mark 10:14-15
[2] Romans 3:23
[3] I John 3:1
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
It is as children that we inherit the Kingdom of heaven, not as adults, careful of our rights, but as little children, for whom every good thing comes as a gift. When parents brought their children to Jesus, that He might touch them and bless them, the disciples were indignant and tried to push them away. Jesus would have none of it. “Let the children come to me,” He said, “and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”[1]
We like to think that it was the innocence of the children that endeared them to Jesus. We tell ourselves that, if only we could recapture the same wide-eyed innocence, then we could inherit the Kingdom. The problem is that we are not innocent. Neither were the children. We are all marked by the consequences of Adam’s shame. We all “fall short of the glory of God.”[2] It is not innocence that will save us. We’re all out of innocence.
Jesus commended the children as worthy of the Kingdom not because of their innocence, but because of their knowing dependence. Mark called them ‘little children.’ They were probably not much more than toddlers. They could not feed themselves, or care for themselves. Left to their own devices they would die. And so would we – eternally. Our spiritual poverty is actually a source of blessing, in that it forces us into the arms of the only One who can save us. “How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us,” writes John, “that we should be called children of God.”[3]
Father God,
As a child I come, trusting and eager,
ready to run into Your sheltering, waiting arms,
anxious to receive Your blessing.
As a child, keep me coming, listening and learning,
growing in Your grace,
anxious always to be a bearer of the blessing of Christ.
In His name.
Amen.
[1] Mark 10:14-15
[2] Romans 3:23
[3] I John 3:1
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Blessed are...
Rich or Wretched?
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
In the letters to the seven churches, in the Book of Revelation, Jesus reserves special condemnation for the superficial, self-satisfied fellowship in Laodicea. “I am about to spit you out of my mouth,” He says. “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”[1] Like the emperor with his new clothes that were no clothes, the Laodiceans have wrapped themselves in their own righteousness, not realizing that they have none. They have been so busy congratulating themselves on their achievements that they have lost sight of their dependence upon God. They may profess Christianity, but they are on the brink of rejection because they seem unable to accept their spiritual poverty. Without a realistic understanding of their bankruptcy, they cannot grasp their need of grace.
It is very dangerous when Christians lose sight of the sinful state from which they have been rescued. When we begin to brag about our riches, or to claim the material benefits that we pretend are our birthright, then we invite non-believers to accept Christ not because of their need but because of their greed. Evangelism on the basis of worldly prosperity is not just a profound misunderstanding of the Gospel, it is also a dangerous heresy. We do not come to Christ because He will make us rich materially. We come to Him because we are spiritually poor. We have nothing without Him, no hope of heaven, no assurance of salvation. Without the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are worse than wretched, we are lost.
Redeemer, Lord,
Without You I have nothing.
But with You I have everything.
I see nothing of any value in me,
but You see great value, and You give Yourself, freely,
to save me from the destruction that would, otherwise, be my lot.
For grace beyond measure, accept my grateful thanks and praise.
Through Christ.
Amen.
[1] Revelation 3:16-17
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
In the letters to the seven churches, in the Book of Revelation, Jesus reserves special condemnation for the superficial, self-satisfied fellowship in Laodicea. “I am about to spit you out of my mouth,” He says. “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”[1] Like the emperor with his new clothes that were no clothes, the Laodiceans have wrapped themselves in their own righteousness, not realizing that they have none. They have been so busy congratulating themselves on their achievements that they have lost sight of their dependence upon God. They may profess Christianity, but they are on the brink of rejection because they seem unable to accept their spiritual poverty. Without a realistic understanding of their bankruptcy, they cannot grasp their need of grace.
It is very dangerous when Christians lose sight of the sinful state from which they have been rescued. When we begin to brag about our riches, or to claim the material benefits that we pretend are our birthright, then we invite non-believers to accept Christ not because of their need but because of their greed. Evangelism on the basis of worldly prosperity is not just a profound misunderstanding of the Gospel, it is also a dangerous heresy. We do not come to Christ because He will make us rich materially. We come to Him because we are spiritually poor. We have nothing without Him, no hope of heaven, no assurance of salvation. Without the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are worse than wretched, we are lost.
Redeemer, Lord,
Without You I have nothing.
But with You I have everything.
I see nothing of any value in me,
but You see great value, and You give Yourself, freely,
to save me from the destruction that would, otherwise, be my lot.
For grace beyond measure, accept my grateful thanks and praise.
Through Christ.
Amen.
[1] Revelation 3:16-17
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Blessed are...
Coming Home
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
Believing himself entitled to an inheritance, the Prodigal Son took his share of his father’s estate and set off for a distant country.[1] But, like so many others, he squandered his resources on wild living until he had nothing left. When famine came to that country he found himself in such dire need that he hired himself out to a pig farmer; but the wages were so low that he still went hungry. One day, as he was eyeing the pods that the pigs were devouring, the young man came to his senses. He said to himself, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”
The Prodigal Son’s problems began when he thought too highly of himself. When his self-image was gilded with thoughts of entitlement he got into trouble. It was only when he came to his senses, when he admitted that his behavior had been wrong, that his darkness was turned to light. Only when he saw that he did not deserve to be called ‘son,’ when he swallowed his pride and set off home, did he find the peace for which he had been searching. And how his father welcomed him! The best robe was placed about his shoulders, a ring was put upon his finger and sandals upon his feet. The fattened calf was killed in celebration. Why?
The father celebrated because his son had come home. And our Father celebrates when, empty-handed and stripped of all our pride, we finally make our way home.
Father God,
I know that my rebellion came close to breaking Your heart.
My foolish pride led me to lose all of the blessings that once were mine,
but I did not lose Your love.
Now that I am home, remind me that it was love that drew me here,
although I am far from lovely.
I rejoice, daily, in the blessing of belonging to Your heavenly Kingdom.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
[1] Luke 15:11-31
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
Believing himself entitled to an inheritance, the Prodigal Son took his share of his father’s estate and set off for a distant country.[1] But, like so many others, he squandered his resources on wild living until he had nothing left. When famine came to that country he found himself in such dire need that he hired himself out to a pig farmer; but the wages were so low that he still went hungry. One day, as he was eyeing the pods that the pigs were devouring, the young man came to his senses. He said to himself, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”
The Prodigal Son’s problems began when he thought too highly of himself. When his self-image was gilded with thoughts of entitlement he got into trouble. It was only when he came to his senses, when he admitted that his behavior had been wrong, that his darkness was turned to light. Only when he saw that he did not deserve to be called ‘son,’ when he swallowed his pride and set off home, did he find the peace for which he had been searching. And how his father welcomed him! The best robe was placed about his shoulders, a ring was put upon his finger and sandals upon his feet. The fattened calf was killed in celebration. Why?
The father celebrated because his son had come home. And our Father celebrates when, empty-handed and stripped of all our pride, we finally make our way home.
Father God,
I know that my rebellion came close to breaking Your heart.
My foolish pride led me to lose all of the blessings that once were mine,
but I did not lose Your love.
Now that I am home, remind me that it was love that drew me here,
although I am far from lovely.
I rejoice, daily, in the blessing of belonging to Your heavenly Kingdom.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
[1] Luke 15:11-31
Friday, February 13, 2009
Blessed are...
The Pharisee’s Prayer
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”[1] In Jesus’ story it is the Pharisee, the man who is so sure of his pedigree before God, that is condemned. The Pharisee feels that he has the right to stand in the most prominent place. He recounts his good deeds, the many ways he is so much better than others. He even sneers at the tax collector, standing at the back of the room: “God I thank You that I am not like other men…”[2] Conversely, the tax collector is well aware of his sin. He is not altogether sure that it is right for him even to be seen in the temple. The best he can do is to beat his breast and to plead for mercy. He has no doubts, he is a sinner in need of grace.
Jesus leaves us without any room for misunderstanding. It is the tax collector who goes home justified, made right with God, not the Pharisee. Without humility none of us can hope to enter the Kingdom of heaven. When we approach God’s mercy seat, there to receive the forgiveness for which we long, we must empty ourselves of any sense of self-approval. We have no right to be there. We are spiritually bankrupt, and no sleight of hand will save us. We cannot file for the protection of our assets, because we have none. Only as we come to God with the open and empty hands of faith are we ready to receive the gift of salvation. Only as we see ourselves as we really are – rebels without a hope – will we recognize our need for a Savior. God still has mercy on the humble, on those who know true poverty of spirit.
Lord God,
I confess that I have been tempted to play the Pharisee’s prayer,
to thank You, and congratulate myself, that I am not like others.
I have even caught myself thanking You that I am not like the Pharisee.
Forgive me.
Bring me down low, then raise me up as a citizen of Your gracious Kingdom.
Through Christ my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Luke 18:10
[2] Luke 18:11
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”[1] In Jesus’ story it is the Pharisee, the man who is so sure of his pedigree before God, that is condemned. The Pharisee feels that he has the right to stand in the most prominent place. He recounts his good deeds, the many ways he is so much better than others. He even sneers at the tax collector, standing at the back of the room: “God I thank You that I am not like other men…”[2] Conversely, the tax collector is well aware of his sin. He is not altogether sure that it is right for him even to be seen in the temple. The best he can do is to beat his breast and to plead for mercy. He has no doubts, he is a sinner in need of grace.
Jesus leaves us without any room for misunderstanding. It is the tax collector who goes home justified, made right with God, not the Pharisee. Without humility none of us can hope to enter the Kingdom of heaven. When we approach God’s mercy seat, there to receive the forgiveness for which we long, we must empty ourselves of any sense of self-approval. We have no right to be there. We are spiritually bankrupt, and no sleight of hand will save us. We cannot file for the protection of our assets, because we have none. Only as we come to God with the open and empty hands of faith are we ready to receive the gift of salvation. Only as we see ourselves as we really are – rebels without a hope – will we recognize our need for a Savior. God still has mercy on the humble, on those who know true poverty of spirit.
Lord God,
I confess that I have been tempted to play the Pharisee’s prayer,
to thank You, and congratulate myself, that I am not like others.
I have even caught myself thanking You that I am not like the Pharisee.
Forgive me.
Bring me down low, then raise me up as a citizen of Your gracious Kingdom.
Through Christ my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Luke 18:10
[2] Luke 18:11
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Blessed are...
Water for the Thirsty
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
When all we can do is cry for mercy, we are ready to receive it. To be poor in spirit is to accept the justice of God’s indictment, and that our only plea must be the merits of our Savior. Salvation is as free as it is undeserved. The Kingdom of heaven is not for the Pharisees, for those who feel that they are entitled to it. The Kingdom of heaven is for the outcast and the lowly, for those who would not, for one minute, imagine that they could ever be made welcome there.
God always had a concern for the poor and needy. According to Isaiah, God saw how they searched for water, but none was to be found. “Their tongues were parched with thirst.”[1] In mercy, the helper of Israel came to them, and answered their cries. He did not forsake them, instead He made “rivers flow on barren heights… springs within the valleys.” God promised, “I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.”[2]
It is not hard to see how God’s care for His Covenant people should be understood in a spiritual sense. Like the poor and needy in a barren place, we are thirsty for the living God. We need the refreshment of His Word if we are to grow and thrive. We need to drink of the Water of Life, which only Christ can give, if we are to be saved.[3] Without Him, we are lost; with Him, we know the blessing of belonging to the Kingdom of heaven.
Living God,
You are the source of all good, and of life itself.
Without You my life would be barren and dry, there would be no life in me.
But with You there is an abundance that overflows.
May I drink forever of Your life-giving water.
Forever, I will be satisfied.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
[1] Isaiah 41:17
[2] Isaiah 41:18
[3] John 4:13-14
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
When all we can do is cry for mercy, we are ready to receive it. To be poor in spirit is to accept the justice of God’s indictment, and that our only plea must be the merits of our Savior. Salvation is as free as it is undeserved. The Kingdom of heaven is not for the Pharisees, for those who feel that they are entitled to it. The Kingdom of heaven is for the outcast and the lowly, for those who would not, for one minute, imagine that they could ever be made welcome there.
God always had a concern for the poor and needy. According to Isaiah, God saw how they searched for water, but none was to be found. “Their tongues were parched with thirst.”[1] In mercy, the helper of Israel came to them, and answered their cries. He did not forsake them, instead He made “rivers flow on barren heights… springs within the valleys.” God promised, “I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.”[2]
It is not hard to see how God’s care for His Covenant people should be understood in a spiritual sense. Like the poor and needy in a barren place, we are thirsty for the living God. We need the refreshment of His Word if we are to grow and thrive. We need to drink of the Water of Life, which only Christ can give, if we are to be saved.[3] Without Him, we are lost; with Him, we know the blessing of belonging to the Kingdom of heaven.
Living God,
You are the source of all good, and of life itself.
Without You my life would be barren and dry, there would be no life in me.
But with You there is an abundance that overflows.
May I drink forever of Your life-giving water.
Forever, I will be satisfied.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
[1] Isaiah 41:17
[2] Isaiah 41:18
[3] John 4:13-14
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Blessed are...
Spiritual Poverty
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
In Greek, the word ‘poor’ is related to the verb ‘to cringe, or to crouch down.’ The imagery is that of a person so poor that he or she is totally dependent upon the charity of others. The poor must beg if they are to survive. They are found crouching by the city gate, their palms extended, all dignity gone. In these terms, poverty is not relative, it is absolute. The poor are those who are unable to fend for themselves. They are utterly without hope.
Is this whom Jesus meant when He opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, in the synagogue in Nazareth, and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor”?[1] Is this whom He meant when He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? Was Jesus advocating a social revolution in which God’s blessings are reserved for the poverty-stricken? Did He intend that we should reject all material blessings in order that we might be spiritually blessed?
There is nothing blessed about being destitute; but there is something valuable in knowing that, spiritually, we are unable to fend for ourselves, and that we must depend, totally, upon the mercies of God. In Israel, the term ‘poor’ came to have a richer meaning than beggarly poverty. Over time, it came to represent those who recognized their need of God. Material poverty is one thing – faithful Jews had always had the responsibility to care for those who could not care for themselves. But spiritual poverty is quite another thing. We do not need to crouch in fear before God; but we do need to accept that we have no refuge but God, no hope save Him.
Lord God,
When I boast of my achievements, bring me low.
When I trust in my own strength, bring me down.
Help me to boast in nothing, save the Cross.
Help me to trust in no-one, save the Crucified One.
In His name.
Amen.
[1] Luke 4:18
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
In Greek, the word ‘poor’ is related to the verb ‘to cringe, or to crouch down.’ The imagery is that of a person so poor that he or she is totally dependent upon the charity of others. The poor must beg if they are to survive. They are found crouching by the city gate, their palms extended, all dignity gone. In these terms, poverty is not relative, it is absolute. The poor are those who are unable to fend for themselves. They are utterly without hope.
Is this whom Jesus meant when He opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, in the synagogue in Nazareth, and read, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor”?[1] Is this whom He meant when He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit”? Was Jesus advocating a social revolution in which God’s blessings are reserved for the poverty-stricken? Did He intend that we should reject all material blessings in order that we might be spiritually blessed?
There is nothing blessed about being destitute; but there is something valuable in knowing that, spiritually, we are unable to fend for ourselves, and that we must depend, totally, upon the mercies of God. In Israel, the term ‘poor’ came to have a richer meaning than beggarly poverty. Over time, it came to represent those who recognized their need of God. Material poverty is one thing – faithful Jews had always had the responsibility to care for those who could not care for themselves. But spiritual poverty is quite another thing. We do not need to crouch in fear before God; but we do need to accept that we have no refuge but God, no hope save Him.
Lord God,
When I boast of my achievements, bring me low.
When I trust in my own strength, bring me down.
Help me to boast in nothing, save the Cross.
Help me to trust in no-one, save the Crucified One.
In His name.
Amen.
[1] Luke 4:18
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Blessed are...
How to Live
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2
It has been suggested by some commentators that the Beatitudes contain Jesus’ teaching about how we may receive God’s blessings. In other words, they understand the characteristics commended and the blessings promised as cause and effect. If you are meek, then you will inherit the earth. If you are merciful, then you will receive mercy. If you are pure in heart, then you will see God. The problem with this interpretation is that it begins to look like blessings are received on the basis of merit. Grace is elbowed out by effort. We are able to claim God’s blessings on account of our behavior. This cannot be true. Scripture is clear: it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith, which is the gift of God, not by works.[1] No-one can boast.
The problem is eased, considerably, if we remember to whom Jesus was speaking. Matthew tells us that Jesus’ disciples came to Him, and that He began to teach them. Luke is even more direct: “Looking at His disciples He said…”[2] The point is that Jesus was speaking to those who had already made a commitment to Him. They may not have understood everything (clearly, some did not), but they did know something. Jesus was not teaching them how to gain peace with God, He was telling them how to live as His disciples. The beatitudes are not intended to teach us how to be saved, they are to help us to live as those who have been saved.
The blessings promised contain both immediate relief and future hope. They represent the Kingdom which has come in Christ, but which will be known to us in all its fullness when He comes again. We are citizens of that Kingdom, not on merit, but by grace alone.
God of blessing,
I bless You now. For You have called me, out of despair, and You have planted my feet in a place of hope. I see, before me, the blessedness of an ever-deepening walk with You. Whatever comes along the way, may I be found faithful. I can endure all things as long as I know that I am travelling with You.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
[1] Ephesians 2:5-9
[2] Luke 6:20
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2
It has been suggested by some commentators that the Beatitudes contain Jesus’ teaching about how we may receive God’s blessings. In other words, they understand the characteristics commended and the blessings promised as cause and effect. If you are meek, then you will inherit the earth. If you are merciful, then you will receive mercy. If you are pure in heart, then you will see God. The problem with this interpretation is that it begins to look like blessings are received on the basis of merit. Grace is elbowed out by effort. We are able to claim God’s blessings on account of our behavior. This cannot be true. Scripture is clear: it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith, which is the gift of God, not by works.[1] No-one can boast.
The problem is eased, considerably, if we remember to whom Jesus was speaking. Matthew tells us that Jesus’ disciples came to Him, and that He began to teach them. Luke is even more direct: “Looking at His disciples He said…”[2] The point is that Jesus was speaking to those who had already made a commitment to Him. They may not have understood everything (clearly, some did not), but they did know something. Jesus was not teaching them how to gain peace with God, He was telling them how to live as His disciples. The beatitudes are not intended to teach us how to be saved, they are to help us to live as those who have been saved.
The blessings promised contain both immediate relief and future hope. They represent the Kingdom which has come in Christ, but which will be known to us in all its fullness when He comes again. We are citizens of that Kingdom, not on merit, but by grace alone.
God of blessing,
I bless You now. For You have called me, out of despair, and You have planted my feet in a place of hope. I see, before me, the blessedness of an ever-deepening walk with You. Whatever comes along the way, may I be found faithful. I can endure all things as long as I know that I am travelling with You.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
[1] Ephesians 2:5-9
[2] Luke 6:20
Monday, February 09, 2009
Blessed are...
Which Version?
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2
A problem must be addressed as we begin: there seem to be two different versions of the Beatitudes. Matthew’s version uses more spiritual language. Luke’s is more down to earth. So, for example, Matthew writes “Blessed are the poor in spirit”[1] while Luke makes do with “Blessed are you poor.”[2] Matthew commends those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness”[3] whereas Luke simply states “Blessed are you who hunger now.”[4] Did Jesus give the same speech twice, using slightly different phrases? Or, if these are two recollections of one event, which one takes precedence?
Much mischief has been made out of this conundrum, and a great deal of nonsense has been written. We will avoid the worst mistakes if we simply remember that both Matthew’s and Luke’s versions are translations from an original Aramaic. Just as translators, today, may use different words to emphasize meaning, Matthew and Luke brought their knowledge and understanding to bear upon Jesus’ words. So, what did Jesus say? Probably, the shorter form is the more faithful to what He said, but the longer more accurately represents what He meant. For example, Jesus may well have said that the poor are blessed, but the richer translation in Matthew captures His concern for spiritual poverty. The Beatitudes were not a manifesto for social action. Jesus was not urging the establishment of a new, earthly kingdom. He was quite clear that His Kingdom was not of this world.[5] Instead, Jesus is identifying the values of the Kingdom, and encouraging those who would be His disciples to discover them for themselves. His words are, at once, both shockingly simple and amazingly profound. They are timeless, which is why they should matter to us.
Lord Jesus,
Help me to bring my mind to the words I read; but help me, also, to bring my heart. Don’t let me be content to understand. Encourage and empower me to make these values my own.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.
[1] Matthew 5:3
[2] Luke 6:20
[3] Matthew 5:6
[4] Luke 6:21
[5] John 18:36
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2
A problem must be addressed as we begin: there seem to be two different versions of the Beatitudes. Matthew’s version uses more spiritual language. Luke’s is more down to earth. So, for example, Matthew writes “Blessed are the poor in spirit”[1] while Luke makes do with “Blessed are you poor.”[2] Matthew commends those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness”[3] whereas Luke simply states “Blessed are you who hunger now.”[4] Did Jesus give the same speech twice, using slightly different phrases? Or, if these are two recollections of one event, which one takes precedence?
Much mischief has been made out of this conundrum, and a great deal of nonsense has been written. We will avoid the worst mistakes if we simply remember that both Matthew’s and Luke’s versions are translations from an original Aramaic. Just as translators, today, may use different words to emphasize meaning, Matthew and Luke brought their knowledge and understanding to bear upon Jesus’ words. So, what did Jesus say? Probably, the shorter form is the more faithful to what He said, but the longer more accurately represents what He meant. For example, Jesus may well have said that the poor are blessed, but the richer translation in Matthew captures His concern for spiritual poverty. The Beatitudes were not a manifesto for social action. Jesus was not urging the establishment of a new, earthly kingdom. He was quite clear that His Kingdom was not of this world.[5] Instead, Jesus is identifying the values of the Kingdom, and encouraging those who would be His disciples to discover them for themselves. His words are, at once, both shockingly simple and amazingly profound. They are timeless, which is why they should matter to us.
Lord Jesus,
Help me to bring my mind to the words I read; but help me, also, to bring my heart. Don’t let me be content to understand. Encourage and empower me to make these values my own.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.
[1] Matthew 5:3
[2] Luke 6:20
[3] Matthew 5:6
[4] Luke 6:21
[5] John 18:36
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Blessed are...
Characteristics of the Kingdom
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. his disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2
Do you know the distinction between spiritual fruit and spiritual gifts? Scripture identifies nine different fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.[1] Spiritual gifts, on the other hand, are many and varied. Some are called to be evangelists, others are gifted as pastors or teachers.[2] Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, which it is our responsibility to discover and use. But every Christian is expected to display all of the spiritual fruits. You don’t get to pick and choose between them. A faithful Christian will, as the years unfold, become more loving, more joyful, more peaceable, and so on.
So, are the Beatitudes more like the gifts of the Spirit or the fruit of the Spirit? Are we all expected to be meek, for example, or is that characteristic reserved for the few? And if that’s not expected of me, do I need to worry about being meek? After all, if God has not given me that gift, how can I be expected to display it? The truth is, of course, that the Beatitudes are not optional extras in the Christian life, distributed among God’s people, but not normative. We are all to develop the characteristics, and to be blessed. Some of them may be more appropriate for certain stages of life than others, but we cannot afford to ignore any of them. We are to be both poor in spirit and pure in heart, recognizing our spiritual poverty and seeking single-minded devotion to the purposes of the Kingdom of God.
As we study them, it is important that you take the opportunity to examine your own heart. The temptation is to examine someone else’s heart and, for example, to allocate meekness to those of our friends and acquaintances that we believe are particularly in need. Avoid the temptation. Jesus’ sermon is not for the fellow in the next pew; it is directed to you.
Holy God,
Help me as I study Your Word, to be open to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit. May I be ready to hear His voice, to listen to His promptings, be they gentle or urgent or both. Then may I be swift to respond. So may the characteristics of Your Kingdom be found in me. In the name of Christ, my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Galatians 5:22-23
[2] Ephesians 4:11
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. his disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them…” Matthew 5:1-2
Do you know the distinction between spiritual fruit and spiritual gifts? Scripture identifies nine different fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.[1] Spiritual gifts, on the other hand, are many and varied. Some are called to be evangelists, others are gifted as pastors or teachers.[2] Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, which it is our responsibility to discover and use. But every Christian is expected to display all of the spiritual fruits. You don’t get to pick and choose between them. A faithful Christian will, as the years unfold, become more loving, more joyful, more peaceable, and so on.
So, are the Beatitudes more like the gifts of the Spirit or the fruit of the Spirit? Are we all expected to be meek, for example, or is that characteristic reserved for the few? And if that’s not expected of me, do I need to worry about being meek? After all, if God has not given me that gift, how can I be expected to display it? The truth is, of course, that the Beatitudes are not optional extras in the Christian life, distributed among God’s people, but not normative. We are all to develop the characteristics, and to be blessed. Some of them may be more appropriate for certain stages of life than others, but we cannot afford to ignore any of them. We are to be both poor in spirit and pure in heart, recognizing our spiritual poverty and seeking single-minded devotion to the purposes of the Kingdom of God.
As we study them, it is important that you take the opportunity to examine your own heart. The temptation is to examine someone else’s heart and, for example, to allocate meekness to those of our friends and acquaintances that we believe are particularly in need. Avoid the temptation. Jesus’ sermon is not for the fellow in the next pew; it is directed to you.
Holy God,
Help me as I study Your Word, to be open to the promptings of Your Holy Spirit. May I be ready to hear His voice, to listen to His promptings, be they gentle or urgent or both. Then may I be swift to respond. So may the characteristics of Your Kingdom be found in me. In the name of Christ, my Lord.
Amen.
[1] Galatians 5:22-23
[2] Ephesians 4:11
Blessed are...
Introduction
You hear the phrase more frequently now, especially in the South. The bill has been paid, the bags have been packed, and as she hands you your receipt the clerk smiles and says, “Have a blessed day!” I think she means it. Her words are a conscious adaptation of the hackneyed, old “Have a nice day!” They are chosen in order to convey a message. With them, the clerk identifies herself as a Christian. Speak them back to her! Let her day be blessed, too.
The language of blessing, which had almost departed from everyday speech, is making a comeback. But it is nothing new. For thousands of years God’s people have been speaking in this way. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,” says Psalm 32:1, in words that Paul would later use to teach the message of Christ.[1] “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him,” the Psalmist continues.[2] Time after time the Bible announces the blessing of those who share a covenant relationship with God. From creation to the call of Abraham, [3] from King David to Deuteronomy, [4] Scripture bears witness to the blessings we enjoy as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
To be blessed is simply to experience the rewards of God’s Covenant. To be cursed is to have those blessings removed. So, when Jesus speaks to His disciples the words that we know as the Beatitudes, He is not laying before them a set of impossible expectations, He is giving them the marks by which they are to be identified. The Beatitudes contain the family likenesses of those who bear the name of Christ. They don’t so much tell us what to do as show us who we are. The Beatitudes are the blessings we receive as members of the Covenant community of faith.
Of course, these blessings would not be ours at all without the unmerited, limitless grace of God. We could never come close to purity of heart without His Holy Spirit leading us in pathways we would never choose, if left to our own devices. We could not show mercy if we had not, first, received the abundant mercy of God. We still fail to live up to the heights to which we are called, but that does not prevent God calling us. Though we may reflect these eight characteristics poorly, or sometimes not at all, they still identify us; they are still a source of blessing. We may not live out the Beatitudes fully, but one day we shall. They remain the priorities by which we are to order our Christian lives, as well as the dreams to which we are to aspire.
As we journey through the Beatitudes, make a conscious effort to bless others, and to know yourself blessed. One final word: You may have come across translations of Matthew 5:3-10 in which the verses begin: “Happy are those…” Is this helpful, or accurate? Should we talk about happiness instead of blessedness? I don’t think so. God’s blessing is not intended to make you happy. There is more to being blessed than being happy. Happiness is a subjective state, dependent upon your circumstances. God’s blessing is intended to remind you who you are. Blessedness is an objective state, dependent upon God’s sovereign choice. And who are you? As one who believes – you are a child of the Covenant, a recipient of grace, and of the blessings of belonging, body and soul, to our gracious Savior, Jesus Christ.
Alan Trafford
Lent 2009
[1] Romans 4:7-8
[2] Psalm 32:2
[3] Genesis 12:2-3
[4] Deuteronomy 28:1-14
You hear the phrase more frequently now, especially in the South. The bill has been paid, the bags have been packed, and as she hands you your receipt the clerk smiles and says, “Have a blessed day!” I think she means it. Her words are a conscious adaptation of the hackneyed, old “Have a nice day!” They are chosen in order to convey a message. With them, the clerk identifies herself as a Christian. Speak them back to her! Let her day be blessed, too.
The language of blessing, which had almost departed from everyday speech, is making a comeback. But it is nothing new. For thousands of years God’s people have been speaking in this way. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,” says Psalm 32:1, in words that Paul would later use to teach the message of Christ.[1] “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him,” the Psalmist continues.[2] Time after time the Bible announces the blessing of those who share a covenant relationship with God. From creation to the call of Abraham, [3] from King David to Deuteronomy, [4] Scripture bears witness to the blessings we enjoy as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
To be blessed is simply to experience the rewards of God’s Covenant. To be cursed is to have those blessings removed. So, when Jesus speaks to His disciples the words that we know as the Beatitudes, He is not laying before them a set of impossible expectations, He is giving them the marks by which they are to be identified. The Beatitudes contain the family likenesses of those who bear the name of Christ. They don’t so much tell us what to do as show us who we are. The Beatitudes are the blessings we receive as members of the Covenant community of faith.
Of course, these blessings would not be ours at all without the unmerited, limitless grace of God. We could never come close to purity of heart without His Holy Spirit leading us in pathways we would never choose, if left to our own devices. We could not show mercy if we had not, first, received the abundant mercy of God. We still fail to live up to the heights to which we are called, but that does not prevent God calling us. Though we may reflect these eight characteristics poorly, or sometimes not at all, they still identify us; they are still a source of blessing. We may not live out the Beatitudes fully, but one day we shall. They remain the priorities by which we are to order our Christian lives, as well as the dreams to which we are to aspire.
As we journey through the Beatitudes, make a conscious effort to bless others, and to know yourself blessed. One final word: You may have come across translations of Matthew 5:3-10 in which the verses begin: “Happy are those…” Is this helpful, or accurate? Should we talk about happiness instead of blessedness? I don’t think so. God’s blessing is not intended to make you happy. There is more to being blessed than being happy. Happiness is a subjective state, dependent upon your circumstances. God’s blessing is intended to remind you who you are. Blessedness is an objective state, dependent upon God’s sovereign choice. And who are you? As one who believes – you are a child of the Covenant, a recipient of grace, and of the blessings of belonging, body and soul, to our gracious Savior, Jesus Christ.
Alan Trafford
Lent 2009
[1] Romans 4:7-8
[2] Psalm 32:2
[3] Genesis 12:2-3
[4] Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Friday, February 06, 2009
The Right Attitude to Rain
I'm plodding my way through The Right Attitude to Rain, the third in the Sunday Philosophy Club series of novels by Alexander McCall Smith. 'Plodding' is the right word. Some of the prose makes Jane Austen look like a speed-writer. Actually, there are some parallels between the two authors, in that both deal extensively with social convention. Austen always has her tongue in her cheek, but she is still fundamentally positive. Although her characters can be painfully bound (for example, many of her young females seem to spend their lives playing the piano-forte, doing needlework, and waiting for Mr. Right), there's usually some point at which convention works in their favor. Austen challenges prejudice, but she does so with a positive attitude towards convention. It's not convention itself which she finds fault with, just the misappropriation of convention as a means of oppression (okay - usually by men). Austen wants the system to work. Fundamentally, she is a very moral writer; there is nothing of the anarchist in her.
McCall Smith, on the other hand, seems to have a destructive view of convention. His main character, Isabel Dalhousie, claims to be an empiricist, but she is nothing of the sort. She is supposed to be the editor of something called The Review of Applied Ethics. The book contains a number of discussions of ethical problems, usually when Isabel seems to be daydreaming. But the content of these discussions is generally superficial. It feels like she is playing at popular philosophy, as a rank amateur, instead of studying it as a professional.
What is particularly grating is Smith's habit of giving Isabel a hectoring high moral tone in all manner of situations, except when it comes to sexual ethics. It's like reading about a Calvinist Sunday School teacher from the Highlands, who is mortified by an accidental untruth, but who has no qualms about jumping into bed with her niece's ex-boyfriend. The almost total absence of Christian reference is startling, given the context. Isabel lives a very pleasant life in a beautiful, Georgian city (Edinburgh), but she never notices the churches. They have no effect upon her life. Her worldview is drawn from an environment which is not just alien to the Gospel, it is antithetical. The streets she walks along are named after the saints, but all other traces of a common faith are gone.
I don't find Isabel particularly believable. Her grasp of philosophy is too shallow to enable her to be the editor of a prestigious journal. But I do wonder whether she is not more representative of modern Scotland than many of us would care to admit. Just over a hundred years ago, a visiting American evangelist was asked to address an assembly of public school children. During his message he asked, rhetorically, "What is prayer?" and was amazed when the entire school stood and recited the answer to that question as it is formed in the Shorter Catechism. His astonished response was to sugest that they should all thank God for the privilege of having been born in Scotland. Today, the Calvinism that seemed so engrained in the Scottish character is ebbing like Arnold's tide of faith. It leaves a generation of Isabels without the moral compass that could guide them around the rocks of life and the shoals of mortality.
At one point, Isabel meets a lady from whom she wishes to purchase a flat (an apartment). The woman, Florence, is an ex-school teacher. She tells a story (which doesn't really fit into the plot) of a young boy with terminal cancer whom she had taught, and to whom she could offer no hope. Only the school chaplain had been able to reach the boy, because his creed had compelled him to love. Florence tells Isabel that she has tried, but that she cannot believe in God; and yet she longs for a faith that would enable her to share hope. The best that Isabel can do is to point out that she has known athiests who have been capable of expressing love. It's a poor substitute. Either Isabel does not understand the spiritual impulse, or she does not want to understand. So she goes back to her daydreaming and her poetry. Her life is rich, but she is unutterably impoverished. Which just goes to show that the mission field is not restricted to unpronouncable corners of the world; it is also next door; it drinks chardonnay and reads W.H. Auden, but without Christ it is equally lost.
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