We can overcome [ John 16 v32-33 ]

Blessed are those who are persecuted,because of righteousness,for theirs is
the Kingdom of Heaven.[Matthew 5v10]Dr.M.L.Jones writes,/This is what is going to happen,because you are a Christian,says Christ/ Being righteous
is going to make you different,and of course we are different,in a world
obsessed with so many things,be it sex,money,pleasure,violence and idolatry,the Christian marches to the beat of another drum.Marching to that
drum beat means as far as the world see's ,you are out of step,you are the odd fellow.Daniel got into serious trouble for praying,Shadrach,Meshach and Abednego,got into serious trouble because they would not bow to a false god.Things have not changed,nor will they,in fact we are told,that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
[2 Timothy 3 v12] ,Remember what our Saviour said,/In the world you will
have tribulation[John 16 v33]/,but then He goes onto say,/But take heart,I
have overcome the world/.It is W. Barclay who comments on these words,/
They were going to see that the world could do its worst to Jesus and still not defeat Him.They were going to see the world doing its worst when it crucified Him; they were going to see His invincibility when he rose again.
And He says;'' The victory which I will win can be your victory too.The world did its worst to Me,and I emerged victorious.Life can do its worst to you,and you too can emerge victorious.You too can possess the courage and the conquest of the cross./
                                 Jude 24-25
To Him who is able to keep  you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.To the only God our Saviour be glory,majesty,power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord,before all ages,now and forevermore . Amen.
                                      
 

Are you hungry and thirsty?.[ Matthew 5 v6 ]

I saw on the net,a short article on the riches woman in the world,I wonder is she really satisfied?.I think of another women whom Jesus spoke to,the 
conversation took place at a well,Jesus asked her for a drink,and so the
conversation developed,she was surprised,at the fact that a Jew would talk to her.Jews were fussy whom they would speak to,but then Jesus was not
concerned with bigoted view points.Well Jesus said that if she asked him,
he would give her living water,this she did not understand,because she was
thinking of natural water.Then he said to her,everyone who drinks of the natural water,will never thirst again,but the water he would give would her would meet her deepest need,it would be like a spring of water,welling up to eternal life.[John 4 ]Which leads us on to another of the Beatitudes,/
/Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be filled[Matthew 5 v6].Could it just be that Jesus is speaking to you who don't Him,and reminding us who do know him ,that only he can meet the deepest need of the human heart.
                                 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
                                 'Behold, I freely give
                                 the living water;thirsty one,
                                 stoop down and drink,and live,
                                 I came to Jesus, and I drank
                                 of that life-giving stream;
                                my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
                                 and now I live in Him.
                                     [Words by Horatius  Bonar ]

Peacemaker. [ Romans 5 v1/ 14 v19]

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of  God[Matthew 5v9].I know a Christian who lived near noisy neighbours,one of the neighbours effected most by the noise,was becoming very annoyed,and was
threatening to do all sorts of things, to the noise maker,things were becoming very difficult.So the Christian phoned the police,told them what was happening the police came and spoke to the noisy person,and from that time on the noise level went down.The Christian who reported the noisy neighbour,told me he saw the situation was getting out of hand,so he sought to bring peace into the situation,which he did. The Christian should be a peace maker,in the community,and dare I say so, in the church also. In a world full of so much conflict,we need more peacemakers,and in a world that is at war with God, Dr. M.L.Jones, writes,/The peacemaker is ultimately concerned about the fact, that all men should be at peace with God. That may come to know Christ, for it is only then will they be at peace with God,and it is only then will they be called the children of God./
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God we would ask for two things,that you would help us who are your children,be peacemakers,and that we may see people coming to be at peace
with you,through Jesus. Amen.

Pure in heart. [ Galations v5 v16ff ]

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God [Matthew 5 v 8]
It is Dr. M.L.Jones ,writes that this is undoubtedly one of the greatest,
utterances to be found where in the whole realm of scripture.The gospel of
Christ is concerned about the heart,what is the state of our hearts,that's what
God is asking. Vine writes,/The heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of our personal life.The Bible describes human depravity as in the heart,because sin is a principle which has its seat in the centre of man's
inward life,and then defiles the whole circuit of his action[Matthew 15 v19-20]/When we surrender to Christ our sins are forgiven and we receive Gods Holy Spirit who enables us to break the sinful tendencies in our heart.So it is we exhorted to live by the Spirit,and if we do,we will not gratify the desires of our sinful nature[ Galations5 v16]. It was David who prayed ,
/Create in me a pure heart,O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me[Psalm 51 v10].Like David I pray those words regularly,for I know how
easy it is for our sinful hearts ,to become dirty and defiled,captivated by
sinful passions.One day these sinful hearts ,will be changed,completely,
and we will see God.
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God create in us clean hearts,like unto yours  in Jesus name Amen .

Mercy. [ Ephesians 2 v1-10 ]

Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy[ Matthew 5 v7]I remember a man telling me about his brother who fought in the 2nd world war,that as he was retreating from the Germans,he taken prisoner.The German officer pointed him in the direction of Dunkirk and let him go.Later when the Allies invaded Normandy he showed mercy to captured Germans.The sad thing was some Allied soldiers did not always take prisoners,but that person showed mercy.In James 2 v13, we read,He shall have judgement without mercy,that hath showed no mercy.Shakespeare wrote,/How shalt thou hope for mercy,rendering none/,in other words if we do not show mercy to others ,we should not expect mercy to be shown to us.Our dear Saviour said ,that there is a blessing upon those who show mercy,and of course  He was speaking to his disciples. Those whom He saved have been shown extraordinary mercy,the least then they can do is to show mercy to others.
                                Years I spent in vanity and pride,
                                Caring not my Lord was crucified,
                                 Knowing not it was for He died,
                                                 At Calvary.
                                 Mercy there was great and grace was free,
                                 Pardon there was multiplied to me,
                                 There my burdened soul found liberty,
                                                At Calvary.
                                             [Words by Wm.R.Newell]
                               

They that mourn [Matthew 5 v 4 ]

Blessed are the that mourn for they shall be comforted[Matthew 5 v4]It is
Dr. M.L.Jones who comments,/That this is a spiritual mourning,and nothing to do with a natural life in this world/. So what does he mean by this?,well
 recently I attended two funerals,of two very godly women.As people spoke of their lives I must confess I felt overwhelmed,I rejoiced at what I heard but it caused me a great deal of sadness,as I considered my own life,and my limited accomplishments.May be you feel like that at times,your own heart accuses you,and of course the accuser who is the devil lends his voice, and you go into a season of mourning.But it is then the Spirit of God speaks to us,reminding us,that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ[Romans 8 v1] And that no one can bring a charge against Gods elect,it is God who justifies,who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died,more than that,who was raised to life,is at the right of God and is also interceding for us [8 v33-34]. The result is I am comforted,but let me also reassure you ,that in all our sorrows ,the God of all comfort will truly comfort his sorrowing children,for with every pang that rends the heart the man of sorrows has a part.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God and Father we praise you that you do comfort your children,as to their spiritual standing,and in all their sorrows,in Jesus name Amen.

We shall inherit the earth [Revelation 21]

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth[Matthew 5 v5].It is J.Stott who writes that we appreciate the words of Saviour in Matthew 11v28 /Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest/,but ignore the verse that follows,/Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me,for I am meek and lowly of heart,and ye shall find rest unto your soul/.what Jesus is saying is,come be like Me,in 1Peter2v23,we read/,When they hurled insults at him,he did not retaliate,when he suffered, he made no threats,instead ,he entrusted himself to him who judges justly/.As to being lowly of heart,Jesus said,I am among you as one who serves[Luke22v27].[ CP . Philippians 2 v 5 -11].When it came to choose a new Roman Emperor the person chosen would pretend to not want it,yes it was just a pretence.But not so with our Saviour ,his meekness and humility
was genuine,and so he calls us to be like him,not self asserting,or self seeking,or given to retaliate when offended,as W. Hendriksen writes,/The
meek person leaves everything in the hands of Him who loves and cares/.As
to inheriting the earth,well I have my little garden,but there is coming a day
when we shall see the fulfilment of these words when we will inherit the new heaven and the new earth[Revelation21v1ff]
                                          A pray
                     Dear Lord Jesus help us to be like You, Amen.