salt and light Christians--those who mourn
We're back from Chicago and feeling great! We cruised Southport in the early afternoon, hit Casey Moran's and Murphy's Bleachers pre-game, ate at The Grillroom on W. Monroe post-game, and listened to great alternative country in Grant Park after dinner. Robbie Fulks was playing. If you like your country with a lot of "twang" and way far away from the mainstream (I vote "yes" on both counts), he's the guy to listen to. Oh yeah, we saw a ball game, too. Tigers 9--Cubs 3. Better luck next year, Cub Fan!
Let's get back to work! We started talking about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and the Beatitudes as a blueprint for how to become "salt and light Christians". The first trait Jesus talked about was being poor in spirit, and we discussed that. Next, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." What did Jesus mean?
Once we realize that we are morally and spiritually empty without the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and that we are sinners by nature (poor in spirit), the natural emotional response should be to mourn over our bankrupt souls. That doesn't mean that we should be sad sacks, constantly depressed, morose or brooding. We are not commanded to sink into a never-ending depression because we are sinners. When Jesus tells us to be mournful, he is referring to spiritual sorrow. We are to recognize our sinfulness for what it is and we are to refrain from rationalizing it. We are to humbly beg God to wash our sins away because we are powerless to defeat sin by ourselves. This is a thought process, an attitude, and a character trait we must prayerfully recommit to each and every day. Mournfulness is certainly a hard trait to master because it goes against everything this world teaches us. Self-esteem, self-gratification, do what it takes to feel good--that's what the world teaches.
Let's all commit to daily prayer with our Heavenly Father, where we will confess our sinfulness, beg for forgiveness, ask for our souls to be cleansed, and pray for the strength and wisdom to do better. Let's also commit to daily Bible reading. God's Word, particularly the Psalms, will teach us how to be spiritually mournful.
Thanks for visiting! We'll talk more later.
Sincerely,
The Christian Conservatives
christianconservatives@yahoo.com
Let's get back to work! We started talking about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and the Beatitudes as a blueprint for how to become "salt and light Christians". The first trait Jesus talked about was being poor in spirit, and we discussed that. Next, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." What did Jesus mean?
Once we realize that we are morally and spiritually empty without the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and that we are sinners by nature (poor in spirit), the natural emotional response should be to mourn over our bankrupt souls. That doesn't mean that we should be sad sacks, constantly depressed, morose or brooding. We are not commanded to sink into a never-ending depression because we are sinners. When Jesus tells us to be mournful, he is referring to spiritual sorrow. We are to recognize our sinfulness for what it is and we are to refrain from rationalizing it. We are to humbly beg God to wash our sins away because we are powerless to defeat sin by ourselves. This is a thought process, an attitude, and a character trait we must prayerfully recommit to each and every day. Mournfulness is certainly a hard trait to master because it goes against everything this world teaches us. Self-esteem, self-gratification, do what it takes to feel good--that's what the world teaches.
Let's all commit to daily prayer with our Heavenly Father, where we will confess our sinfulness, beg for forgiveness, ask for our souls to be cleansed, and pray for the strength and wisdom to do better. Let's also commit to daily Bible reading. God's Word, particularly the Psalms, will teach us how to be spiritually mournful.
Thanks for visiting! We'll talk more later.
Sincerely,
The Christian Conservatives
christianconservatives@yahoo.com
posted by hondo at 9:09 PM
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