Good Mourning? June 29, 2011

Good Mourning?


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

When Jesus was teaching in the Sermon on the Mount to the multitudes, he was encouraging the people that for the church to move forward the people had to be different. The Beatitudes have become building blocks to become like Jesus. It has to start with the person you see in the mirror. And, according to the Scriptures, it begins with being broken. Eugene Peterson paraphrased it, “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

As American men, we don’t like to mourn. For most of us we don’t know what it means to mourn, to have our hearts broken over sin. Jesus promises a blessing, He promises His presence. But, we have our own responsibility. Sin is not God’s problem… it is ours.

Isaiah 59:1 says, Look! Listen! God's arm is not amputated—he can still save. God's ears are not stopped up—he can still hear. There's nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you. Your wrongheaded lives caused the split between you and God. Your sins got between you so that he doesn't hear. (the Message)

Stop where you are! Ask the Lord to save. Tell Him you’re sorry and mean it. Allow Him to reach down and pick you up.

What sin is God convicting you about for which you need to mourn and ask God’s forgiveness?


How, through the mourning over your sin, will you establish ways to conquer this in your life and destroy it? (throw it into the fire)
REVIEW

Did you mourn your sin today?



How were you able to confess and ask for God’s forgiveness for sin and how did you experience His victory?