Blessed are the Merciful

Blessed are the MercifulMatthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Mercy: “Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.” We live in a dog-eat-dog world: competition and the desire to get ahead are hammering at us from all directions. We don’t always see someone else as someone we can harm, we see them as just another meat popsicle in a world of meat popsicles. Compassion and kindness is something you want, not something you give.

That sounds harsh, but it is how most people view life. Showing mercy should mean doing what is right, not what you have the right to do. It means not being constrained by legalism.

What is Mercy?

Mercy is being kind to the grump next door. It lets someone else have the last sandwich, cookie, or pie. Mercy shows grace to someone wrong but whose bias shields them from the truth. It is taking the time to listen when it is your turn to talk. Mercy is not overpowering someone with your force of will but using gentle persuasion. Mercy is remarkably patient and kind.

Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Each of us is given a position of leadership. That could mean setting an example for siblings, raising children, heading a household, or holding a position of authority. From time to time, we are given the power to control others. How do we use that power? Do we use it as an opportunity to serve and be an example, or is our life so hectic and chaotic that we want the shortest path from point A to point B? Worse yet, have people controlled us with power, so we use our power as an opportunity to get back in control?

Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Being Merciful

Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

“Justice is when you get what you deserve. Mercy is when you don’t get what you deserve. Grace is when you get what you don’t deserve.” — Anonymous.

Being merciful and being meek are interrelated. We talked about meekness and God’s desire for us to approach each interaction with a sense of humility. Humility is the foundation of mercy. Once we understand that we are saved through God’s mercy, through no effort of our own, then we can extend that same attitude toward others.

Psalm 40:11, “Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.”

Can we expect compassion and kindness when we do not extend it to others? We, as Christians, are an extension of God’s kingdom here on earth. How can we expect to receive something ourselves if we do not give it to others? Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is not for them that sin and fear not, but for them that fear and sin not. – Thomas Watson, The Beatitudes

Blessed are they who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirstMatthew 5:6, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”

Many of us were raised in the church believing that if we follow the proper practices, associate with the right people, participate in Bible study, and attend church, we will gain God’s favor. While salvation is a gift, it comes with a cost. We are taught you cannot be passive and expect God to love you; some form of transaction must occur. Nothing in life is truly free, not even salvation.

The Wrong Hunger and Thirst

Deuteronomy 8:6, “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”

We are led to believe every sin and every transgression is an indictment against our worth to God. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness isn’t about doing the right things but about aching on the inside for a worldwide revival. To hunger and thirst is to feel the vacuum left by worldly desires and want it filled with God’s love.

John 6:35, “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God. It is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. – John Piper

Hunger and Thirsty for the Lost

One of my biggest daily challenges is seeing the injustice in the world and maintaining my sanity. I become emotionally hijacked every time I read the news. The number of people who deal with injustice and foundational needs is staggering, as is the world’s wealth. Why do we still have these problems? Why do certain people gravitate to a position of power just to use it to gain more power? When is enough, enough?

“The greatest disease in the West today is not tuberculosis or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but love is the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness. Many in the world are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.” – Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light.

Psalm 43:1,” Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked.”

Because I love God and want to please Him, I try to live according to His will. I will fail again and again, but I will keep on trying—not because it is a pathway to salvation, but because I want to please Him. My hunger and thirst are not about gaining His love but about spreading His love throughout the world.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Be Satisfied

I need to yearn for the salvation of others, To be desperate for the unsaved, and to lament the plight of the underserved and downtrodden. My prayers should be numerous. I pray for a world where God reigns with love, compassion, and grace. I pray that authorities and governments listen to God’s voice and respond appropriately. Let us pray for the impossible and rejoice in what God accomplishes.

John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Blessed Are the Meek

Blessed are the MeekMatthew 5:5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

At first glance, this statement feels upside-down. How can being meek be a blessing? Doesn’t the world teach us to be strong, confident, and self-sufficient? Yet, Jesus points to something more profound that takes time to understand, let alone live out. It’s a transformative power that can inspire hope and a new perspective.

Proverbs 16:19: “It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

To Be Meek

To be meek is to recognize our insufficiency. It’s the awareness that, no matter how much we achieve, how smart we become, or how strong we appear, we are not enough on our own. It’s the humility to admit we need something greater than ourselves.

True humility isn’t about a single act or a carefully crafted appearance; it unfolds over time, woven into how a person consistently lives, interacts, and treats others. It’s not something you “put on” for effect; it’s something you become.

Psalm 25:9. “He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way.”

A humble person doesn’t need to prove superiority over others but remains open to learning, growth, and collaboration. They can accept criticism without being defensive and acknowledge their mistakes without losing confidence. Humility also involves treating others with respect, regardless of status or ability, and not letting ego drive decisions.

We had long known the Lord without realizing that meekness and lowliness of heart should be the distinguishing feature of the disciple. – Murray, Andrew. Humility: The Beauty of Holiness.

Humility

Humility isn’t about self-pity or weakness. It’s about clarity. Pride builds walls, but humility opens doors. When we let go of the illusion that we have it all figured out, we create space—for growth, wisdom, for God to work.

But the real reward is personal—seeing life clearly, having deeper relationships, and not being ruled by pride or insecurity. It’s a kind of freedom that liberates and empowers us.

James 4:6, “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

The world often mistakes humility for passivity, but genuine humility is anything but weak. It takes strength to admit we don’t have all the answers. It takes courage to live with open hands instead of clenched fists. And paradoxically, in this surrender, we find true freedom—freedom from the exhausting need to prove, control, or compete.

People won’t immediately recognize humility because it’s not loud or attention-seeking. But over time, it leaves an undeniable mark. How someone listens, handles success and failure, and treats people who can do nothing for them, these things accumulate and reveal a person’s character.

Galatians 5:23, “Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

The Promise to the Meek

Jesus’s promise is just as radical as the statement: They will inherit the earth.  When we stop chasing significance and start seeing life through the lens of dependence on God, we begin to experience the kingdom here and now.

Maybe being meek isn’t a disadvantage. Maybe it’s the key to peace.

What do you think? How do you see this playing out in your own life?

Colossians 3:12, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Blessed are They Who Mourn

Blessed Are Those That MournMatthew 5:4 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Matthew 5:4 powerfully reminds us that mourning is an inevitable part of the human experience in a broken world. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the burdens of a world full of challenges, or the pain of broken relationships and regrets, mourning is something we all face.

To Mourn

But this verse isn’t about being stuck in sorrow, it’s about the hope that follows. Grief and loss are real, but they don’t define the end of the story. They open the door to comfort, healing, and renewal. Even during pain, we are not abandoned. We are met with love, grace, and reassurance. The comfort we receive comes through our faith. Delivered through others, or the quiet peace that grows within us over time. We can trust that our pain is not meaningless, and that hope shines through, even in the darkest moments.

Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

Mourning is not just about what’s been lost; it’s about what’s missing now. The emptiness left behind is sometimes the most challenging part. It’s not just the absence of a person or situation but also of something that once brought us joy or purpose. So, how do we fill that space?

The answer is believing that God’s presence will fill the void. Through Him we can turn to love—deepening relationships with those still with us. We can fill the emptiness by embracing a new purpose, turning pain into something meaningful through service, creativity, or personal growth. What matters is that we don’t numb the pain with distractions but allow something that truly nourishes the soul to fill the void.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Resilience

True resilience lies in finding God’s purpose, even in tragedy. Grief may cloud that purpose at first, but in time, we are faced with a choice: Will we allow loss to define us in despair, or will it transform us into something stronger, wiser, and more compassionate? God doesn’t remove the pain, but He gives it meaning. He uses suffering as a catalyst for growth, helping us understand life and love on a deeper level.

Never does a man know the force in him until some mighty affliction or grief has humanized the soul.- Frederick W. Robertson, The Sermons of Frederick W. Robertson.

There is always the temptation to fall into victimhood, to let pain define us as helpless or unworthy. But that path often leads to bitterness and isolation. Instead, God invites us to trust that He can use it for good even in the worst circumstances. This is where we can experience actual growth: amid hardship, we can choose to rise above it and be transformed by it.

Suffering is never without purpose. Even in our deepest pain, God is at work. The Bible speaks of how God turns ashes into beauty, works all things for good, and is always near to the brokenhearted. Mourning is not just an expression of loss—it’s an invitation to draw closer to God. In our weakest moments, we often feel His presence most profoundly. Grief creates a vacuum, but that space can be filled with God’s love, grace, and the hope of resurrection.

Beauty from Ashes

Isaiah 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.”

Tragedy is a choice: either a point of surrender or resistance. Choosing redemption means trusting that God can bring something good from even the worst circumstances. Choosing victimhood closes us off from that possibility. The invitation is always there.

“Even amid our worst times, God has not abandoned us. We may feel overwhelmed by our problems and sorrows — but God is never overwhelmed, nor do they take Him by surprise.” – Billy Graham.

Ultimately, to mourn is not the end. It’s the beginning of healing, transformation, and a deeper relationship with God. Beauty from ashes—this concept speaks directly to the heart of redemption. God can take what is broken, burned, or lost and bring something new, even more beautiful, from it. It doesn’t erase the pain but transforms it, giving it purpose.

Think of how fire refines gold or how a forest, after being ravaged by fire. It grows back more vibrant than before. Similarly, our deepest struggles and losses can lead to our most extraordinary growth. If we allow God to work through them. This is where true beauty can emerge—not just from what we gain, but from what we’ve endured and learned along the way.

Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

At first glance, this may seem like an odd statement. Who would consider depression to be a blessing? But in the gospel context, being poor in spirit refers not to emotional poverty, but the recognition of our spiritual  insufficiency. It’s about understanding that, without God, we are spiritually bankrupt, utterly incapable of saving ourselves from our sin. We should all consider ourselves poor in spirit for we have all sinned.

Acknowledging Our Sinful Nature

Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

To be poor in spirit begins with the painful but necessary acknowledgment of our sinful nature. The Bible teaches that we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. This means that, apart from God’s intervention, we are separated from Him and under the weight of sin. We may try to live righteous lives, but at the core, we are broken, our hearts are prone to selfishness, pride, and rebellion. We all have a desperate past of sin that we want to forget, but can’t.

“Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future.”— Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Recognizing this spiritual poverty is the first step to true humility. It’s when we come to terms with the reality that we have nothing to offer God in terms of righteousness, and that we cannot make ourselves right with Him on our own. This is a sobering realization, but it is also a liberating one.

Seeking God for Relief

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Once we acknowledge our brokenness, we face the crucial question: How do we find relief from this self-incrimination? How do we stop beating ourselves up over past transgressions? The answer is simple yet profound—by seeking God. To be poor in spirit is to recognize our need and turn to the One who can provide what we cannot. It’s an invitation to humility, surrender, and a desire to be transformed by God’s grace.

In seeking God, we acknowledge that only He can heal our brokenness. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, cleansed, and made new. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who recognize their need for a Savior. This is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Recognizing our sin and dependence on God opens the door to the richness of His grace and the abundant life He promises.

A Humble Posture Before God

Being poor in spirit also means taking on a humble posture before God, free of self-righteousness. It’s easy to look at others and think we are better or more deserving of God’s favor, but the reality is that we are all in need of His mercy. We are all beggars at the foot of the cross.

True humility comes from knowing we cannot stand on our merits. Our salvation is entirely God’s work, not our own. When we recognize this, we can experience the freedom and peace that come from trusting in Him fully.

Conclusion

Proverbs 18:14: “The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”

The blessing of being poor in spirit positions us to receive the kingdom of heaven. It’s an invitation to let go of self-incrimination and embrace God’s grace. By acknowledging our sinful nature and seeking God’s relief, we are drawn closer to Him. As we walk in humility and surrender, we find that God, in His mercy, is ready to forgive and transform us, making us new creations in Christ. This is the true blessing of being poor in spirit—recognizing our need and finding our fullness in God alone, erasing the past and looking toward the future.

The Grand Story

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

Every setback and every negative encounter can be seen as an opportunity to let the waves of life wash you out to sea or the genesis of a great story of overcoming. We make that choice, it is not made for us.

An Opinion is only a State of Mind.

Christians making ChristiansAn opinion is only a state of mind; it does not predict the future. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines opinion as “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.” We too often give too much credence to someone’s opinion, including our own. Many of the disagreements I hear are formed when opinions differ.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” — Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning.

Christian Opinion

As a Christian, I think it is time to walk back our opinions. We often take too strong a stand on our emotional state about a subject. The genesis of our opinions is not our knowledge of the future, but environmental elements of our past. We form opinions because of past experiences, cultural, or social influences, media information, peer pressure, group dynamics, personal and emotional bias, education, and personal interest. There are probably many other reasons, but none of these reasons is knowledge of the future.

Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Having a strong opinion about a matter does nothing to make a difference. Making a difference comes from active involvement in relieving the condition you oppose or improving a condition in which you feel a deficit. Telling everyone you meet your opinion only stirs up controversy. Controversy gives birth to anxiety, which fosters conflict.

2 Timothy 2:23-24 – “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.”

Influencers

We live in a dysfunctional world full of misinformation and half-truths. Millions of people write online articles to create conflict by influencing public opinion. They do this out of greed, not as a public service. The more diversion they can create, the more site traffic they create, the more advertising income they receive. These are not people interested in improving the world. Their goal is to create income with passionate speeches and convoluted logic.

Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

“Tolerance isn’t about not having beliefs. It’s about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you.” – Tim Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (2008)

There are legitimate influencers with a true passion for their cause. Some of their causes are misguided and based on sketchy logic, but they are heartfelt. Some influencers take great pains to find the truth and communicate it with an objective view, but it is rare. We are all influenced by the abovementioned reasons; no one is above unconscious influence.

Our Position

Proverbs 18:2 – “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.”

“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.”- John Piper, A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life (1997)

Our position as Christians is to rise above the ordinary. We can’t stop having opinions—God-given emotions overflow into opinions—but we can watch how we communicate them; consciously acknowledging that they are emotions, not facts. Changing the future by arguing a position is counterintuitive. We change the future by doing, not talking.

James 1:19 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

To the future me

To the future me: You have spent your entire life chasing things. That has gotten you wealth, power, and prestige. But it hasn’t gotten you peace, purpose, or meaning. Thank goodness, at 45, you stopped chasing things and started prioritizing relationships. Now, you rest in the love of many.

One Person Can Make a Difference.

No Act of Kindness is Wasted
No Act of Kindness is Wasted

One Person can make a difference. I know many of us don’t believe it can be us. We believe we have an impact on our families and friends, but that is not a real difference in the world. It seems like one more drop of water in the ocean, one more grain of sand on the beach.

Matthew 17:20, “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

The Star Thrower

The 1969 essay by Loren Eiseley entitled “The Star Thrower” described a man who didn’t look at the totality of his effort but the importance of making an effort. A concluding statement says, “ Only then have I allowed myself to think. He is not alone any longer. After us, there will be others.” What gives me hope is not that I would change the world, but maybe, through my actions, there may be others who can and will.

There are people like Micheal J. Fox who have raised billions for Parkinson’s research. Jane Kristen Marczewski (Nightbirde) used her short-lived fame from AGT to proclaim that we all have a loving God, even in bad times. These are contemporaries who used their circumstances to change the world. They exposed people to needs and provided hope. But most of us don’t have that stage. Our sphere of influence is small; our accomplishments are mundane.

After Us Will Be Others

Eiseley’s “After Us, There Will Be Others” should be our rallying cry. Helping one person a day, week, or month might catalyze world change. Even in our suffering, we can provide hope. There is not even one of us that will not leave a legacy. The question is, what will that legacy be? God has given us everything to stimulate the “Butterfly Effect” for eternity. We can set in motion the dominoes that create change for generations to come. It is our actions that save a life for eternity. It is not the totality of our effort but the importance of making an effort. We don’t know what God has in store.

1 Corinthians 2:9, “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

If you spend the rest of your life impacting just one Person for Christ, you may save millions. That Person may save two, and those two each save three. This ripple effect continues until Christ returns, potentially saving millions. One Person can make a difference.

We Each Have a Story

We each have a story. Our lives ebb and flow with the effects of a fallen world. Unfortunately for the teller but exuberant to the listener, great stories start with great tragedy. The definition of a great tragedy is different for different people. As North Americans, we do not see a tragedy like South Americans might. Many people live everyday lives that I find hard to comprehend.

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

But all these stories must be lived and told. The overcoming must be passed down from generation to generation so that others might have hope. The overcoming, Christ’s intimate intersection with our lives, must be kept alive. When we see the tragedy as tragedy, we lose sight of God’s great plan for our lives. We come alive when we see tragedy as the genesis of a great story of salvation and redemption.

James 3:4, “Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”

The tragedy is a tragedy, deep, dark, and depressing. But the outcome, the final scene, does not have to be. It can end as one of the greatest stories ever told, and that story can change the world.

One Person Can Make a Difference

One Person can make a difference in the life of another. God planned it that way. Have hope. Seek compassion, love, and grace from the creator of the universe, and he will give you a mighty story that will comfort listeners long after your passing.

Matthew 25:21, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

Change: What You Are Not Changing You Are Choosing

God is a God of ChangeWhat You Are Not Changing You Are Choosing is a quote from Laurie Buchanan. It suggests that you are implicitly accepting it as your reality by not taking action to change a situation.

We face choices daily—some we make actively, others through inaction. Yet, the truth remains: what we refuse to change, we are choosing. Scripture teaches us that God calls us active participants in our faith and lives, not passive bystanders.

Deuteronomy 30:19, “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live.”

This verse reminds us that choosing to remain in unhealthy patterns, toxic environments, or spiritual complacency is still a choice—one that can keep us from the abundant life God intends for us.

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis.

Are You Settling for Less Than God’s Best?

Are you staying in a situation that drains your spirit, hoping it will somehow change on its own? Are you waiting for the “right time” to grow spiritually, mend a broken relationship, or pursue the calling God has placed on your heart?

James 4:17, “If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin.”

Inaction is still a decision when we know we need to act.

Faith Requires Action

Jesus often called people to step out in faith before transformation happened. The blind man had to wash in the pool (John 9:7), Peter had to step out of the boat (Matthew 14:29), and the woman with the issue of blood had to push through the crowd to touch Jesus’ robe (Mark 5:27-28). Each had a choice: remain the same or move toward change.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” – Oswald Chambers.

So ask yourself:

What area of my life am I waiting for God to change when He is waiting for me to take action?

What fear is holding me back, and am I trusting God’s strength over my own?

Am I praying for change but resisting the steps God is prompting me to take?

God’s Promise for Those Who Choose Change

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

God does not call you to change on your own—God equips, strengthens, and walks with you.

If you’re not actively choosing growth, renewal, and obedience to God’s direction, you may choose stagnation, fear, or comfort over calling. But the good news is, today is a new opportunity to choose differently.

What will you choose?

Isaiah 43:18-19, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”