Based on Matthew 5:4

MEMORY TEXT:  “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

Not long ago I was sitting next to a gentleman on an airplane.  As we began to talk, he shared with me that his wife had just passed away.  He was in deep grief and told me he didn’t want to live anymore.  Oh, the grief that we have when we suffer the loss of someone we love!

When Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted,” He was not referring just to our sadness at times of loss.  The cause of the suffering He spoke of was the grief we experience as we realize that “… in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18).

How can a person be thankful they are rescued unless they remember that they were drowning?  Or how can a person be thankful for food unless they remember that they were starving?  If we are to be thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus, we must remind ourselves that without Him we are lost.  We must never feel that we need Jesus only when we begin the Christian life.  Rather, we need Him all the time.

The Holy Spirit cannot work in the life of the person who feels no need.  Mourning before God is expressed in humility.  ”For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).

Some would ask, How can we be happy in the Lord if we are mourning all the time?  The answer is that, though we are mourning because we recognize that we are proud, selfish, bitter, resentful, lustful, and lack self control, we are comforted to know that He receives us as we are.  Our mourning will express itself in a spirit of repentance.  A person who is sorry for their sins is comforted to know that the heavenly Father forgives them.

I tried to comfort the man who was mourning the loss of his wife, but he will have to wait until the resurrection to see her again.  The comfort that Jesus offers us is not only for a future time but for today.  What a wonderful promise.  When you feel discouraged in the Christian walk, or if you have suffered the loss of a dear one, remember Jesus’ words, and be comforted.