Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:3-5
Last night was a great night at CR in Frisco. I wanted to look at this verse again this morning, because when I was younger I never really understood what it was saying.
After all how can someone be “blessed” if they are “poor in spirit, mourning, or meek?”
The first time I read this verse I thought that this must be an oxymoron as there is no way that someone with those traits can be “blessed.” Lets look deeper into this verse though and the implications it has in leading a life of sexual purity.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
So why would God want us to be poor in anything? First off, this does not relate to material possessions. Being poor in spirit is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation.
We must realize that we are powerless to do anything on our own accord to break free from the chains of sexual temptation. Even if we can muster up our own willpower to resist, it will only be a short time before we fall back into the same patterns and traps. Only when we realize this can we put our full faith and trust in God. This is what God wants and he will bless our lives when we surrender to his will and give Him the glory.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
The term mourn means “to experience deep grief.” The Holy Spirit comforts those who are honest about their own sin and humble enough to ask for forgiveness and healing. They key here is “honest” or true Godly sorrow. Those of us that battle sexual temptation have all experienced sorrow at one time or another. The key though to overcoming temptation is whether you have sorrow from being caught, or a true sorrow about the sins you have committed.
Only when we have true Godly sorrow about our actions, can our hearts know peace from the Holy Spirit. It is at this time we can admit before God that our lives are unmanagable and that we need His forgiveness and grace.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
The Greek work translated “blessed” is praeis and refers to the gentleness of spirit or humility. This can also be known as strength under control. If one is meek, it means that while they might have the right or power to do something, but instead show restraint for the benefit of someone else.
Being meek is extremely difficult in this world as everything tells us that we should do what makes us feel good – that we are what is most important. Sexual immorality hurts more than just ourselves, it hurts loved ones, our friends, our families and it hurts God to see one of his childlren falling into sin.
God wants us to realize our own spiritual poorness, mourn and be meek so that we will be blessed. This does not mean blessed with material possessions, money or fame. Blessed is from God’s perspective and not our own. This world is fleeting and in the long run nothing we obtain here has any value. God is more concern about our spiritual prosperity. Our ability to fall asleep with no regrets and find joy, peace and contentment.