EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
FRIDAY JULY 24, 2026.
SUBJECT: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN!
Memory verse: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5 vs 4.)
READ: Isaiah 61 vs 1 - 3:
61:1: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
61:2: To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
61:3: To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
INTIMATION:
The word “mourning” means “to feel deep sorrow, to show great concern, or to deplore some existing wrong.” It means “to experience deep grief.” It is important to realize that Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and not to the public. Jesus did not imply that mourning is about those who have a morbid view of life; He was speaking to people who were seeking to live fuller lives with God in the center. Jesus' sermon was a collection of truths designed to prepare His followers for His kingdom, which involved a lifestyle radically different from the world’s.
Therefore, happy are those who recognize their spiritual poverty, and thus, humbly grieve over their sinfulness. The humble person recognizes his spiritual poverty and thus mourns over his inadequacies before God. In the Scriptures, blessed usually means "happy." But in keeping with His theme of spiritual blessedness, blessed most likely indicates "an enviable state."
When a person has acquired good fortune, we call him “blessed.” But in His sermon, Jesus calls some people “blessed” who appear to be quite the opposite. People who “mourn” don’t seem to be “blessed,” according to most other people. Jesus is contrasting the world’s idea of happiness with true blessedness—spiritual prosperity—which comes from a right relationship with God.
The people who agree with God about the evil of their own hearts can attain an "enviable state of blessedness," due to the comfort they receive from communion with the Holy Spirit. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter (John 14 vs 16, 26; 15 vs 26). The Spirit comforts those who are honest about their own sin and humble enough to ask for forgiveness and healing.
Those who hide their sin or try to justify it before God can never know the comfort that comes from a pure heart. The Scriptures in Proverbs 28 vs 13 say, "He who covers his sins will not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
Before we can become strong, we must first realize that we are weak. Before we can become wise, we must realize that we are foolish. Before we can receive power, we must first confess that we are powerless. We must lament our sins before God before we can rejoice in a Savior. Mourning always comes before exultation. Blessed are those who mourn their unworthiness, their helplessness, and their inadequacy. If we have no sense of sorrow for sin, how can we know the need of repentance?
It is noteworthy that before God, we must go down into the valley of grief before we can scale the heights of spiritual glory. We must become tired and weary of living without Christ before seeking and finding His salvation. We must come to the end of “self” before we can really begin to live. The Psalmist says, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34 vs 18).
Jesus reminds His followers that they cannot seek happiness the way the world does. True joy is not found in selfish ambition, excuses, or self-justification. An enviable state of blessedness comes to those who mourn over their own sin. The Scriptures, in Isaiah 66 vs 2, the Lord says, "...But on this one will I look; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trenbles at My Word." The Lord says that the ones He will look on with favor are those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
When we agree with God about how bad our sin is, repent of it, and seek His power to walk away from it, He promises comfort from the Holy Spirit. This kind of "mourning" leads to repentance is truly blessed.
The Scripture, in Second Corinthians 7 vs 10, says, "For godly sorrow produced repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." Repentance results in forgiveness and cleansing from God. When we have confessed Jesus, and trusted in Him as our personal substitute for sin, we no longer stand condemned (Romans 8 vs 1).
Rather than wallow in guilt and shame, we realize that we stand justified before God (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21; Galatians 3 vs 24). Those who learn to mourn over their own sin find the heart of God. And intimate fellowship with God is the very foundation of true happiness.
Our anchor notes that those who mourn shall be comforted by the Lord. Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that where always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for Him. However, we must understand that being "comforted" can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles.
Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of mourning over my sins; showing my spiritual poverty and great concern over my wrongdoings which displeases You. Forgive me O Lord and comfort me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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