My Reflections

Beatitudes 1 and 2

I have posted a new Bible study for today. The title is Do You Believe? Come on over and read it. Leave a comment. Request prayer. Make a suggestion. I would love to hear what you have to say.

Come check out my new Bible Study Forum!

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Feasting On The Word of God   (E) This is for a Bible study group. #2245217 by Marvelous Friend

The first Bible study is on Hagai 1:1-11. Take a look and join me in the study, leave a comment about your views on it. Join me every week, starting March 1, 2021. I will post a new Bible study every Monday. I am looking forward to seeing you there! 👀

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Take Up Your Cross

Prompt:
In the first few verses of Matthew chapter 5, this is where we find the Beatitudes.
What does Matthew 5:3-4 mean to you?

Matthew 5:3-4
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Answer:
In verse three, it refers to the poor in spirit. Some of you may ask, why would God want us to be poor in our spirit? Why is Jesus saying we are blessed if our spirit is poor? Doesn't God want us to be joyous? Didn't Christ come so we can have life more abundantly? To understand this verse a little better, let me refer to another.

Psalm 34:18-19
18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/contrite?s=t

contrite
[ kuhn-trahyt, kon-trahyt ]SHOW IPA

adjective
caused by or showing sincere remorse.
filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; penitent:
a contrite sinner.

I also want to share another one.

2 Corinthians 7:8-10
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

The key to this reference of the poor in spirit I believe is for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. So if I am poor in my spirit because I acknowledge my sin and am sorrowful about it, this sorrow leads to eternal life through confession and repentance of sin.

In verse four, it talks of those who mourn. I have heard a couple of theries on this. One is that God always comforts his child who is mourning as any good, loving father would do. The second is that if we mourn for our sins, God will also comfort us as he forgives our sin.

Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

As a father comforts his child after correction, God also comforts us.

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Take up Your Cross  (E) This will be a daily blog forum. #2225667 by Marvelous Friend

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Gratitude List

1. The Blood of Jesus
2. God's love
3. The Bible
4. The people who gave their lives for me to be able to read the Bible in my own language.
5. Church
6. My pastor and his wife
7. Church services on the internet
8. Communion
9. Transportation to and from church
10. Fellowship with other believers.