Encouragements for our troubled times No. 67
COVID-19 Series | Date: 01 July 2021
The Elders and Deacons want to encourage the members and those who regularly meet with us through this weekly letter. If you have news which you would be happy to share with the fellowship or request for prayer, then please let us know.
A message from our Pastor
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
To mourn is not usually seen as something that is blessed. After all, if we are mourning, we are upset about something; we may have lost a loved one, we may have had some bad news, or we may be experiencing some persecution or hardship. There are many reasons why we may be mourning and all of them are painful; and, yet, the Lord says blessed are they. And, remember, the term means they are truly blessed. It could be rendered, ‘O, the blessedness.
So why does the Lord say that we are blessed? Because we shall be comforted. It is one of the great blessings of the Christian life that, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, our Saviour is there for us and knows exactly what we are going through because he has experienced them all Himself. He was ‘a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.’ So, our Saviour knows exactly what we need and how best to comfort us. And we know that our Saviour loves us, and cares for us. He sympathises with us and has all power and authority in Heaven and Earth to help us in all our distresses. Isn’t it such a blessing to have such a God and Saviour; such a King and Lord; such a Friend, who loves us with a love far stronger than any Earthly parent could love us
We are also truly blessed because our Lord has sent The Heavenly Comforter to us. The Holy Spirit now lives within us and comforts us. What a privilege to have the third person of the Trinity living inside of us; with us through every experience, and ready to help us whenever and wherever needed. Our God draws near to us, wipes away every tear, soothes our sorrowing hearts, and lifts us up out of our downcast state. What condescension and compassion this is? He is the Almighty God of all the universe who, the Angels of Heaven bow down and worship; and yet He deigns to stoop down and comfort and care for us like a mother. This is truly a blessing and we are truly the blessed.
With such a privilege as this, we should see ourselves as truly blessed when we mourn and fly to Him for His comfort.