After speaking about the blessing of being poor in spirit, being broken over our own sin, the importance of meekness, the need to hunger and thirst for righteousness, the blessing that comes to those who know and give out mercy and the need for a pure, undivided heart, in Matthew 5:9, Jesus then spoke of the blessing that belongs to those who make peace. While peace is often understood as the absence of war, it has a much deeper meaning in Scripture. Jesus was known as the ‘Prince of Peace’ and by his death and resurrection he made reconciled God’s people to God – bringing them into a relationship with Him. As those who know this peace, the followers of Jesus are called to be peace-makers by encouraging all to find peace with God through the gospel.
Author: Philip
‘The blessing that belongs to the pure’ (Matthew 5:8)
After speaking about the blessing of being poor in spirit, being broken over our own sin, the importance of meekness, the need to hunger and thirst for righteousness and the blessing that comes to those who know and give out mercy, in Matthew 5:8, Jesus then spoke of the blessing that belongs to those who are pure in heart. Pure has the idea of ‘washed clean’ but also single-mindedness. The heart that knows that the blood of Jesus washes away all sin, and that is fixed upon God, wanting nothing else beside him, is that heart that will know the reward of ‘seeing God’. This will be the reward of those who truly seek God through His Word and then at the end of all things when faith gives way to sight.
You’re invited to come to this!
A discussion and Q&A session with:
Robert Martin – Melbourne Director, City Bible Forum, and
Ian Robinson – President Emeritus, Rationalist Society of Australia.
7pm GPO Balcony Room 60-64 Pall Mall Bendigo.
Join us as we discuss what is probably the most important question in the world.
SMILE… a new ministry!
We are delighted to announce the approval of a new ministry called SMILE (Supporting Migrants In Learning English), a conversational English class for migrant women (and their children). SMILE will run from the Upper Room on a Monday morning commencing in Term 4. We are excited that this new ministry is in line with Session’s own Vision Statement; ‘developing ministries that will reach out to the city of Bendigo and the world.’ Your prayers for SMILE are encouraged!!
‘The blessing that belongs to the merciful’ (Matthew 5:7)
After speaking about the blessing of being poor in spirit, being broken over our own sin, the importance of meekness and the need to hunger and thirst for righteousness, in Matthew 5:7 Jesus then spoke about the blessing that belongs to those who are merciful. While this world is a place where we often note the absence of mercy, Jesus here reminds us that mercy is at the heart of so much that the Bible teaches us about God and also our responsibility towards others. God’s mercy to us in Christ means that his people are spared from the judgement we deserve. It also means that having been shown mercy, we are to show that mercy to others. To refuse God’s mercy and then to refuse to show mercy means that we will only be left with the fearful thought of facing his judgement.
‘The blessing that belongs to the hungry/thirsty’ (Matthew 5:6)
After speaking about the blessing of being poor in spirit, being broken over our own sin, and the importance of meekness, in Matthew 5:6, Jesus went on to speak about the blessing of those who hunger and thirst. Jesus was not speaking of those cut off from food and drink, but those who earnestly desire the righteousness that God alone gives to those who seek Him. While the world offers so much that is ‘junk food for our hearts and lives’, Jesus alone offers real satisfaction that will fill the hearts and lives of those who seek him
‘The blessing that belongs to the meek’ (Matthew 5:5)
After speaking about the blessing of being ‘poor in spirit’ and being broken over our own sin, Jesus then went on in Matthew 5:5 to speak about the blessing of being meek. Most people equate ‘meekness’ with ‘weakness’ merely because they rhyme, but this is in correct. To be meek is to be ‘bend-able’ and in the context in which Jesus used it, it refers to a person’s attitude to God and to life. The meek will be ready and willing to bend and submit to God’s will because they are humble and forgiven. Meekness does not come naturally, but it something known through our relationship to Jesus who was truly meek,
Our ‘Safe Church Training’
Over 100 people from Presbyterian Churches all over Victoria (Bendigo, South East Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Castlemaine, Camberwell, Ballarat, Rochester, Kerang and Broadford…did I miss anyone??) who gathered together in St John’s yesterday for our ‘Safe Church Training’ led by our Safe Church Unit’s Trainer, Mrs Fiona Bligh. (See their website here). What a morning it was! It is a sad fact of life that we need to be taught how we must work together to eliminate abuse of every kind, but that is the way things are. We learned so much (not all of it was good!) and we are all now better equipped to help make each our churches ‘safer’ by ensuring that we truly care about one another and look out for the vulnerable among us as we ought! Thank you Fiona for your time and expertise and wisdom. We praise God for your appointment to such a vital role.
‘The blessing that belongs to the mourners’ (Matthew 5:4)
After speaking in the first of the Beatitudes concerning the attitude of being ‘poor in spirit’, in Matthew 5:4, Jesus then spoke about the blessing that belongs to those who ‘mourn’. Rather than understand Jesus’ words to refer to people who are suffering from grief because of some sense of loss, he was instead speaking of those who mourn and sorrow over their sinful condition. Jesus even gave a parable on this very thing in Luke 18:9-14. There, the tax collector typified the kind of attitude Jesus spoke of. Why is this a blessing? Because as we mourn over sin and confess it, by grace and because of Jesus’ death for our sins, God freely grants forgiveness to the repentant
‘The blessing that belongs to the lowly’ (Matthew 5:3)
The first of the Beatitudes that Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:3 concerned the attitude of being ‘poor in spirit’. While the world knows those who are ‘poor’ in another sense, Jesus spoke of those who are ‘poor in spirit’, that is, they have no tickets on themselves, They know their own sinfulness and are prepared to come before God honestly and with empty hands. In fact, there is no other way in which we can come before God and this is the entry point to His Kingdom, for ‘He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.’