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Sermon on the Mount
183
God’s word for the sorrowing is, “I will turn their mourning to
joy, [and] will comfort them.”
Jeremiah 31:13
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A Calm Spirit Glorifies God
“Blessed are the meek.” The meekness that hides itself in Christ
will greatly reduce the difficulties we encounter. If we possess
the humility of our Master, we will rise above scorn, snubs, and
annoyances. These things will no longer cast sadness over the spirit.
People who fail to keep a calm spirit when others treat them badly
rob God of His right to reveal His own perfection of character in
them. Humbleness of heart is the strength that gives victory to
Christ’s followers.
The world may look scornfully on those who reveal the meek
and lowly spirit of Christ, but God values them greatly. The poor in
spirit, the humble in heart, whose highest ambition is to do God’s
will—these will be among the saved who have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” The
sense of unworthiness will lead us to hunger for righteousness. All
who long to bear the likeness of God’s character will be satisfied.
Love will enlarge us spiritually, giving us a capacity for higher
achievements, for increased knowledge of heavenly things, so that
we will not rest short of the fullness—“For they shall be filled.”
The merciful shall find mercy, and the pure in heart shall see
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God. Every impure thought weakens the moral sense and tends to
erase the impressions of the Holy Spirit. The Lord may and does
forgive the repenting sinner, but though forgiven, the character is
marred. Anyone who wants to have clear perceptions of spiritual
truth must shun all impurity of speech or thought.
But the words of Christ cover more than freedom from fleshly
impurity, more than freedom from that ceremonial defilement which
the Jews so carefully shunned. Selfishness prevents us from be-
holding God. Until we have given up our self-seeking, we cannot
understand Him who is love. Only the unselfish heart, the humble
and trustful spirit, will see God as “merciful and gracious, longsuf-
fering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”
Exodus 34:6
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