Morning, May 31
<< Morning, May 31 >>
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
        for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
        for they will be comforted.
        God blesses those who are humble,
        for they will inherit the whole earth.
Insight
Jesus began his sermon with words that seem to contradict each other. But God's way of living usually contradicts the world's.
Challenge
If you want to live for God, you must be ready to say and do what seems strange to the world. You must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has in store for you.
2 Samuel 15:23  The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron.

David passed that gloomy brook when flying with his mourning company from his traitor son. The man after God's own heart was not exempt from trouble, nay, his life was full of it. He was both the Lord's Anointed, and the Lord's Afflicted. Why then should we expect to escape? At sorrow's gates the noblest of our race have waited with ashes on their heads; wherefore then should we complain as though some strange thing had happened unto us?

The King of kings himself was not favored with a more cheerful or royal road. He passed over the filthy ditch of Kidron, through which the filth of Jerusalem flowed. God had one Son without sin, but not a single child without the rod. It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we are. What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us. "In all our afflictions he was afflicted." The idea of strangeness in our trials must be banished at once and forever, for he who is the Head of all saints, knows by experience the grief which we think so peculiar. All the citizens of Zion must be free of the Honourable Company of Mourners, of which the Prince Immanuel is Head and Captain.

Notwithstanding the abasement of David, he yet returned in triumph to his city, and David's Lord arose victorious from the grave; let us then be of good courage, for we also shall win the day. We shall yet with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation, though now for a season we have to pass by the noxious streams of sin and sorrow. Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King himself triumphed after going over Kidron, and so shall you.


Genesis 32:28  He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed."

Hosea 12:3,4  In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his maturity he contended with God. • Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel And there He spoke with us,

Romans 4:20  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

Mark 11:22-24  And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. • "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. • "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Mark 9:23  And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Luke 1:45  "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

Luke 17:5  The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

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