Matthew 5 - Those Who Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness

Matthew 5:6 (HCSB) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.

Have you ever had a craving that you just couldn't get enough of? For me, it is any kind of sweet or carb. I am a professed "Carb-aholic." Show me a sweet or pasta and I'm there and ready to consume as much as you will give me. Of course, my doctor is not happy about this attitude and is always telling me to watch what I eat. As a diabetic, I must listen or suffer very unpleasant consequences. But, even when I am "being good" and only eating what I should or at least only eating what I shouldn't in small quantities, that doesn't change the desire for sweets or carbs.

God's righteousness should be the same for all believers. This beatitude is all about those who just can get enough of God. They know first hand the impact that He can have in their lives and they are so consumed with the desire for more of it that they literally "hunger and thirst" for it.

When those seasons arise that we all seem to face from time to time where we aren't as close to God as we should be, the longing for God's righteousness doesn't cease. Just like my desire for sweet things, those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness" always have a longing for more, even if they are not pursuing it as they should in their day-to-day walk.

And, when they are hungering, God promises that they will be filled. Since the longing never stops, the filling will be one of abundance, overflowing all of our possible expectations. God wants to bless us with an abundant life. But, we have to want it. We NEED to long for it.

Take Refuge, if your truly long for and hunger for God's righteousness, His blessings will be better than you can ever imagine.

Matthew 5 - The gentle

Matthew 5:5 (HCBS) Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.

I was raised to view "meekness" more as the sign of weakness rather than a blessing. A gentle or meek man was someone who would not stand up for himself. Someone who would cower away from a fight. Someone who might have been described as a "patsy." But yet, this is one of those many occasions where what man means for bad, God means for good.

This character trait of gentleness is also attributed to Jesus himself. In Matthew 21, Jesus sends two disciples to get a donkey and her colt so that the prophesy of Zechariah 9:9 would be fulfilled.

Zechariah 9:9 (HCSB)
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your King is coming to you;
He is righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

In Matthew 21:5, the King is described as gentle, but the original Hebrew translation of humble really gets to the root of the kind of character that Jesus is blessing in this beatitude. The gentle or meek person described here is one who is truly humble before others, content with who they are and accepting of God's provision on their behalf. In modern terms, the gentle ones love to F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God).

As a result of this character trait, Jesus says they will inherit the earth. As described in The Message, Matthew 5:5b, "That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Those who are content and humble realize they already have much more than those who are pursuing money and things for the accumulation of wealth.

Take refuge in your gentleness or meekness. Your humility before God will be rewarded.

Matthew 5 - Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4 (HCSB) "Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted."

The key to understanding this beatitude is consider what the mourner is mourning. A clearer understanding is found in The Message, "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."

I know that almost all of us have experienced the loss of someone special in our lives. The sorrow and what some might describe as devastation that we feel as a result of the loss can be insurmountable at times. You feel a heavy weight and a dark cloud that you don't think will ever disappear.

Have you ever been unjustly accused? The loss of "what is most dear" may be your reputation that is blemished by someone else's accusations that just simply are not true. If the accuser is someone that you love, then the loss is doubled resulting in sorrowful mourning.

However, what if in the light of such situations, you choose not to mourn but rather to be angry and shake your fist at God saying, "How dare you? Why would you do this to me?" When tragedy is accompanied with anger, bitterness is the natural result. And bitterness leads to broken relationships with others and with your Heavenly Father. Remember, whatever your tragedy, God didn't cause it to happen just to punish you for something in your life. Our response to tragedy is a reflection of our spirit and trust in a loving Father.

When we mourn a loss, we also allow ourselves to be comforted both physically and spiritually. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo which is also translated as encouraged or exhorted. Our Heavenly Father wants to comfort and encourage and exhort us when we are mourning and broken in our spirit. In our weakness, He is strong. But when we choose to act "strong" showing a "stiff upper lip" to those who are closest to us or choosing anger over sorrow, we are also rejecting God's love for us.

Your attitude in your tragedy or distress will determine the spiritual outcome of your mourning. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (The Message), "Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. We never regret that kind of pain. But those who let distress drive them away from God are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets."

Take refuge in your mourning. God wants to comfort you and shower His love on you. It is your choice whether you allow Him to do that for you.

Matthew 5 - Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 (HCSB) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs."

Poor in spirit. That's a phrase the philosophers and theologians alike have pondered over the ages. You will find it described in many ways, but almost always as a concept of seeing yourself as a lowly being in the face of a Holy God. Proverbs 16:19 (HCSB) says, "Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble than to divide plunder with the proud."

Jesus describes Himself as "gentle and humble in heart" in Matthew 11:29. In Isaiah 66:2, God is saying, "I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and who trembles at My word." Here the word submissive can also be translated as broken.

Luke 18,9-14 (HCSB), He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else: "Two men went up to the temple complex to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand and was praying like this: 'God, I thank You that I'm not like other people —greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, turn Your wrath from me —a sinner!' I tell you, this one went down to his house justified rather than the other; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

What is your spirit like? Are you the one who is thankful they are not like others who you see as lower than you or are you like the tax collector acknowledging that you are a sinner deserving of God's wrath? Like is so often true, God chooses to bless those who feel unworthy. Being truly poor in spirit is submitting yourself wholly to a just and righteous God expecting the punishment we deserve.

Take refuge, when we submit ourselves to God, understanding that we deserve punishment for our sinful nature, then God can bless us out of His mercy and love. Remember, as long as we are looking for the blessing that we think we deserve, we are not "poor in spirit".

Matthew 4 - He called, they followed.

Matthew 4:18-22 (HCSB) "As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. "Follow Me," He told them, "and I will make you fish for people!" Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him."

When Jesus called the disciples, they didn't hesitate or delay. They followed him immediately. As Matthew 4:20 says in The Message, "They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed." There was immediate obedience.

I've often wondered why this was. Peter and Andrew may have heard of Jesus by this time, but they didn't even ask, "Why me?" They just dropped everything and left. The same was true with James and John even leaving their father in the boat along with the nets they were mending. They could have said, "We'll follow you, but let us finish mending these nets first." But instead, "they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father." (Matthew 4:22 - The Message).

What do you do when Jesus calls you? For me, it was to run in the other direction. I was afraid of what it would "cost" me. Would I have to be a "Jesus freak?" What would it feel like for people to tell me they didn't want to hear about the God that I was following. And, consider the financial cost. Most pastors are not financially "well off." No, the cost for me was too great, so I ran -- until now.

God has been patient with me and continued to pursue me until finally, I have surrendered to His call on my life to do whatever He asks. I don't yet know what that is or what the "cost" will be, but like the disciples, I need to stop asking questions and simply follow.

In retrospect, I think Peter and the others were glad they did. They got to spend 3 years learning at the feet of the Son of God! They got to see first hand the miracles that he was performing and hear from Him how to live an abundant life.

Take refuge, my friend, when God calls it is worth it to answer without hesitation. And, even if you delay, He will still pursue you because He has a perfect plan for you and He wants the very best for you. Give your life and your will to Him. You can trust Him, He won't lead you astray.

Matthew 2 - They Saw a Star

Matthew continues telling us of the prophecies fulfilled during the early years of Christ's life here on earth. Of course, as we saw in Matthew 1, the prophecies about his lineage were clearly fulfilled and now in chapter 2 we see Matthew continuing to document the prophecies of his early childhood that were fulfilled: the location of His birth (2:6); God calling His son out of Egypt (2:15); the death of the Hebrew children as Herod tried to kill the "King of the Jews" (2:18); and that he would be called a Nazarene (2:23).

As I read through this and studied the verses, I realized that my image of the wise men and their journey was incorrect. I've always heard the story that they followed the star when actually they saw the star and then from the prophecy knew where to go (Matt 2:2 and 2:6). When they had completed their journey and sought news from Herod as to the whereabouts of the child, he didn't know what they were talking about. So they continued to Bethlehem as the prophecy foretold. Then, when they returned to the directions provided, they saw the star again leading them to where Jesus was and they rejoiced (Matt 2:9).

Matthew Henry writes in great detail about the idolatry of the eastern religions and how God used a star to speak to them in a manner that they would understand and be drawn to Him. "Thus the stars that had been misused came to be put to the right use, to lead men to Christ; the gods of the heathen became his servants."

What I see here that draws me in is that God called even the godless to come to Bethlehem and worship the Messiah. He called them in a manner that they would understand and He provided them with direction (Micah 5:2 which Matthew quotes in 2:6). Imagine a 2-year journey with camels and horses or mules. Think of all the events that probably occurred that could have easily caused the Magi to turn around and go home. I can only imagine all the things that Satan would have wanted to do to stop their arrival and their heralding of Christ as the King of the Jews. Yet, they came. God made sure of that.

What is your star? How has God called you in a way that you would uniquely understand? Remember, when He called the Magi, He knew it would take them a long time to get where they were going. And, He knew He would have to protect them and ensure they actually got there. He is ready to do the same thing for you.

Take Refuge, God sends "stars" for all of us. We just have to be ready to follow them.

Matthew 1 - God Had a Plan

As I start a new adventure with this blog, the men in my church are starting a new 30-day challenge. This time, it is the book of Matthew. As I read Matthew, it is helpful to keep in mind that Matthew specifically wrote his gospel to the Jews. Many of the passages relate events and perspectives that are of particular interest to the Jewish culture. This is true in Matthew 1:1-16.

Many call this the "begats" as Matthew documents the generations from Abraham to Joseph. From a Jewish perspective, this is particularly important because the male role in the culture is predominant. As I read through the lineage; however, I see a plan unfolding.

Listed in the genealogy are Tamar (the daughter-in-law of Judah who seduced him and bore his child), Rahab (the harlot who helped the Hebrews when they came to Jericho), Ruth (the Moabite woman who followed Naomi back to Bethlehem) and Bathsheba (the woman David took from Uriah by having him killed). Matthew brings out in particular the names of four women in a genealogy that is focused on the lineage of the men. Two women who were not even Jews and two who were adulteresses.

In keeping with God's promise to both Abraham and David, the Messiah was descended from both of them. Also included in this section is the time or exile to Babylon when the nation of Israel was being punished for their unfaithfulness to God. But, again as prophesied, the nation returned to Jerusalem and the lineage continued.

Matthew documented 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the exile and 14 from the exile to Jesus the Christ. Through 42 generations, God continued to work His plan. Through good kings and bad kings, through good men and women and through bad men and women, generation after generation God had a plan. He knew long before Abraham was born what this plan would be and when he promised to Abraham that the whole world would be blessed through his seed (Gen 12:3 and Gen 22:18), He knew how that plan would unfold.

As Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal 3:28 - HCSB). Jesus came for all of us regardless of background, race or creed. As Matthew Henry writes, "We ought not to upbraid people with the scandals of their ancestors; it is what they cannot help, and has been the lot of the best, even of our Master himself."

Take Refuge, my friend. God has a plan. He has always had a plan and He will continue to execute that plan until the day that Christ returns.

Take refuge in the FATHER - F=Forgiveness

God presents Himself to us in three images – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In looking at how we can take refuge in “the LORD”, we can see different ways that “the LORD” reaches out to us by looking at each part of the trinity.

God, the Father can be represented as an acronym that describes the Father’s heart toward us.

F – Forgiveness. It is as Lewis B. Smedes wrote, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Sin separates us from God and forgiveness of that sin is the method He provides to reconcile the broken relationship. The Father loves us so much that he desperately wants to repair the broken relationship, even to the extent that he would allow His own Son to pay the price for our sins. Through that sacrifice, the Father chooses to forgive our sins in the same way we forgive others.

Through the scriptures, we are commanded to forgive others:

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against any, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.” (Mark 11:25 HCSB)

“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:32 HCSB)

“Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord had forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:12-13 HCSB)

“For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.” (Matthew 6:14 HCSB).

Notice that we are repeatedly instructed to forgive others so that we can be forgiven. The Father knows that if we are holding grudges and bitterness towards others, we are just hurting ourselves. He loves us so much that He wants the best for us and that begins with forgiveness.