2-3-24

In my quiet time today I was seeking the Lord about mourning and the Beatitudes.  He had shown me things I had forgotten about when I wrote several weeks ago about future comforting from God for those who mourn.  My thoughts this morning brought up several questions:

“What about those who are mourning NOW? Where is their comfort?  Does scripture speak about a present comforting from God?”

Several scriptures came to mind from Isaiah 40 and Psalm 51 which I listed below.  But these still left me with the same questions.  They were answers for Israel that could be extended to Christians but are there New Testament answers to the questions specifically for believers?

As I prayed and pondered these questions, I felt the Holy Spirit ask “What is the foundation for repentance?”  He showed me that “mourning” for sin is the basis and foundation of repentance.  Those who mourn for their sin build a foundation of repentance and will be comforted.  True joy can only be found in a relationship with God through acceptance of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for sin and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

A verse came to mind about how the saints in the end times lived: Revelation 12:11 NIV1984 – “They overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” God has given me a testimony to share with others about my relationship with Him.  Jesus talked to His disciples at the Last Supper about His sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection saying “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Jesus’ sacrifice as the Lamb of God gives me peace today.  Here is the answer to my questions.  As I mourn over my sin and accept the blood of the Lamb as payment for my sin, I receive His peace.  He overcame the world and sent the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to comfort those who mourn and believe.  This gives me a testimony in a troubled world to share with others of what Christ Jesus did for me and how I was comforted and brought peace.  For any who may read this, please understand that repentance is just a realization of our sinful standing before a perfect God who has lovingly provided a way of having a relationship with Him.  It is “mourning” that sinful state (not being perfect), turning away from it, and accepting the love of God through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Christ Jesus.  If you have not accepted Him, will you do so today? (in the link please read the section on “good news – The ABCs of salvation and The Romans Road”).

If you have accepted Him and have experienced the love of God, remember that He is returning soon to rule and reign.  He will comfort all who mourn and will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev. 7:17; Rev. 12:10-12)

Scripture References:

Psalm 51 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Psalm 51:6-12 NIV1984

• 6  Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
  • you teach  me wisdom  in the inmost place.  
• 7  Cleanse me with hyssop,  and I will be clean;
  • wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  
• 8  Let me hear joy and gladness; 
  • let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 
• 9  Hide your face from my sins 
  • and blot out  all my iniquity. 
• 10  Create in me a pure heart,  O God,
  • and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  
• 11  Do not cast me  from your presence 
  • or take your Holy Spirit  from me. 
• 12  Restore to me the joy of your salvation 
  • and grant me a willing spirit,  to sustain me.

Psalm 51:16-17 NIV1984

• 16  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
  • you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 
• 17  The sacrifices  of God are  a broken spirit;
  • a broken and contrite heart, 
  • O God, you will not despise.

Isaiah 40:1-2 NIV1984

• “1  Comfort, comfort  my people,
  • says your God. 
• 2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
  • and proclaim to her
• that her hard service has been completed, 
  • that her sin has been paid for, 
• that she has received from the Lord’s hand
  • double for all her sins.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV1984

• 28  Do you not know?
  • Have you not heard? 
• The Lord is the everlasting  God,
  • the Creator  of the ends of the earth. 
• He will not grow tired or weary, 
  • and his understanding no one can fathom.  
• 29  He gives strength  to the weary 
  • and increases the power of the weak. 
• 30  Even youths grow tired and weary,
  • and young men  stumble and fall;  
• 31  but those who hope  in the Lord
  • will renew their strength. 
• They will soar on wings like eagles; 
  • they will run and not grow weary,
  • they will walk and not be faint.

John 16:33 NIV1984

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Revelation 7:17 NIV1984

• For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
  • he will lead them to springs of living water. 
• And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 21:3-4 NIV1984

• 3  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  4  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death  or mourning or crying or pain,  for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 12:10-12 NIV1984

• 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
• “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
  • and the authority of his Christ.
• For the accuser of our brothers,
  • who accuses them before our God day and night,
•     has been hurled down.

• 11 They overcame him
  • by the blood of the Lamb
  •  and by the word of their testimony;
• they did not love their lives so much
  • as to shrink from death.
• 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens
  • and you who dwell in them!
• But woe to the earth and the sea,
  • because the devil has gone down to you!
• He is filled with fury,
  • because he knows that his time is short.”

This is the time and world we live in.  The devil has been cast down to earth with a third of the angels who rebelled against God.  Satan knows his time is short and Jesus will soon return.  We overcome the works of the enemy through the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.  Are you ready?