Philip Burns

Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.

‘The blessing that belongs to the mourners’ (Matthew 5:4)

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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)

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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.’

‘The greatest blessing of being blessed’ (Matthew 5:1-2)

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When Jesus spoke to the crowds who came to hear him in what is called the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in Matthew 5:1-2, he began by detailing the characteristics of those who belong to His Kingdom. This part of the Bible is called the ‘Beatitudes’ and as someone has wisely said, it contains the ‘be-attitudes’ that disciples of Jesus must adopt. But before Jesus outlined these characteristics, he pointed out that those who belong to his kingdom are truly ‘blessed’. While the world vainly searches for happiness in so many things, Jesus wants us to know that as His people we are already blessed beyond what the world could ever imagine. To know more of this blessing is a better goal than all that the vain pursuits that the world may offer.

‘Deaf and blind to the voice and the glory of God’ (Psalm 19:1-14)

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Psalm 19 begins by telling us that all around us is evidence for the reality of God. The stars and the skies daily proclaim His handiwork and his glory. These created things ‘speak’ to us of His presence and greatness, but they do not tell us of who he is or how we can find him. These truths about God are found in the rest of the Psalm. God speaks through His written word and this completes the puzzle. What the skies and stars do not tell us, His Word does! Sadly, many remain deaf and blind to the voice and the glory of God which has reached its greatest expression in the ministry and person of Jesus His Son.

‘Finishing strong in the race to the end’ (1 Peter 5:6-14)

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In 1 Peter 5:6-14, Peter writes his final comments to his readers, urging them on to continue strongly towards the finish line, with an attitude of humility toward one another, watchfulness with the regard to the evil one, hopefulness with regard to the future and steadfastness with regard to the gospel. Jesus said ‘he who endures to the end will be saved’. Even in those dark days of the first century when God’s people were being persecuted, they were called to hold their heads high and remain faithful. In these days, God’s people are to respond to the world’s renewed hatred in the same way.

‘Peter’s prescription for a healthy church’ (1 Peter 5:1-5)

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In 1 Peter 5:1-5, Peter called upon the elders of the churches he was writing to, to do all that they could to pastor and shepherd the people under their care in a way that showed them to be faithful servants of Jesus the Chief Shepherd. Just as Jesus loved and served his people, so also elders are to serve those under their care willingly, unselfishly and faithfully. In response to this, God’s people are to submit to the lead of their elders and all alike, leaders or followers, are to be clothed with the apron of humility. It was Peter’s hope that by doing this, the believers would remain strong if and when persecution came upon them. Healthy churches display healthy inter generational relationships that glorify God.

‘Hard lessons for hard times’ (1 Peter 4:12-19)

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In 1 Peter 4:12-19, Peter encourages his readers who were facing intense persecution, with some important teaching regarding trials in the Christian life. The ‘fiery trial’ Peter’s readers were facing was nothing that should come to them by surprise and in the midst of the trials these believers should rejoice because of God’s purposes and plans in them. They also should examine their own ways as well as trust themselves to their faithful Creator. Trials are hard to endure, but because God is in control, they will prove our faith to be ‘more precious than gold’ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

‘How are we to live in the last days?’ (1 Peter 4:7-11)

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In 1 Peter 4:7-11, Peter called his readers to note that this world will not last forever and that the second coming of Jesus was not far away. In the light of this fact, the believers were to be sober minded so that they could devote themselves to prayer, to loving one another and to servicing one another using their God-given gifts to build up His people and to increase God’s glory. In short, Peter expected his readers to be all that they should be. In these times, the same applies. The return of Jesus may not be far away meaning that our response in these ways is all the more urgent.

‘Armed for the fight against the world…and sin’ (1 Peter 4:1-6)

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In 1 Peter 4:1-6, Peter called his readers to a life of purity and holiness in a world where they were often maligned and even put to death. The motivation that Peter gives for living a holy life was the reminder that Jesus suffered on the cross to deal with our sin and will soon return to judge all men for their deeds. The means that Peter gives for living a holy life include the reality of persecution from the world, the daily struggle with our own sinful natures and doing our best to avoid becoming like the people of the world around us.  To grow in all of this, our will needs to align itself with God’s will.

‘Standing up strong for Christ …to the end’ (1 Peter 3:18-22)

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In 1 Peter 3:18-22, Peter reminded his readers that Jesus suffered much on the cross when he gave Himself on the cross to save His people. However, not all of what Peter says is no so clear, and in mentioning that Jesus preached to those who lived in the days of Noah, some have assumed that Jesus did this between his death and resurrection. It is better to understand this to mean that Jesus preached the gospel through Noah, who was a herald of righteousness. Either way, Peter’s conclusion is clear; Jesus was vindicated by God the Father who will do the same for all His children who suffer for the gospel.