Matthew 5:6 ( ESV )
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There is just no greater heartbreak then to see
someone starving or dying of thirst. To long for the most essential need of
mankind. Like a man who is starving or thirsty for just a drop of cool water
should be our longing for being like Christ. Christ, alone can satisfy our
hunger and thirst spiritually. He calls Himself the bread of life and if we
will drink of Him we will never thirst again. The force of these words is like
that of a man who is in dire need. Here is a person who knows that he is not
righteous and can only satisfy his longing by thirsting after God. Psalms 42:1-2
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A promise is now made in the passage to the one
who hungers and thirst after God. One day He will fill us to the point of where
our desires in this area will be totally met. He also wants to fill us and
satisfy us now. Psalms 107:9 “He satisfies
the longing soul and fills it with good things.”
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Am I constant in prayer with the following
words? “Lord I want to be like you.”
Matthew 5:7 ( ESV )
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Merciful has the idea of being charitable or
loving to others so that it will benefit them. Jesus though takes it a step
further in that He has shown us mercy by giving us what we do not, nor could
ever deserve. Are we known for being a people who want to meet other’s needs?
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If we truly see the poverty and spiritual
poverty of others we will be a people who will automatically show mercy to them.
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The contrast to this verse can be seen in James 2:13. If we show no mercy then none will be
shown to us. The Bible also tells us the story of a master who owed a great sum
of money to one over him. Even though he could not afford to pay it back his
lender, he forgave him of his massive debt. When the master found out someone
owed him a trifling amount in comparison he showed no mercy. Rather he punished
the man severely. Word got back to the lender and he was highly displeased with
the master and he then punished the master.
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We love to have mercy shown upon us. We pray for
our Lord’s mercy upon us daily. Yet, are we known as one who will show mercy to
those around us? Mercy should be the very heartbeat of a redeemed believer.
Matthew 5:8 ( ESV )
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This is a person who is trying to live a holy
life or one that is set apart for God. He wants to be pure and cleansed before
God, both outwardly and inwardly. He is will to have a catharsis placed upon
him by the Father. He longs not for the pain of the purging but for what the
purging will do to draw him closer. He knows that God wants his heart, his
motives and thoughts to be His alone. Rom. 12:1-2
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These are those who are promised that they shall
see God. Remember what happened to Moses when he saw just the backside of God? Exodus 33:20 The
Bible makes it clear that without His holiness we will not see God. Hebrews 12:14 One day we will see Him in all of
His glory. I John 3:2-3
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Look at these three life changing verses.
Proverbs 4:23 ( ESV )
Psalms 51:6-7 ( ESV )
Matthew 5:9 ( ESV )
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We
are told in the scriptures that the Lord is Peace. This is who He is. He is the
one God of peace who has reconciled us who were at war with Him and now calls
us sons of God. This is the power of the cross and the resurrection.
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This
God who offers us peace wants us to be known by this same characteristic to all
of mankind, even our enemies. Matthew 5:43-45 We should seek to love our enemies
and be a people who do not provoke others. We are to try to pursue peace with
all men in Hebrews
12:14. Are you known as a
peacemaker or one who loves to stir up the pot? How can we who once were
enemies with God, and who are now His children, not show peace to those who
hate us?
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