Blessed Suffering

Matthew 5:3-10

Photo by Jack Sharp / Unsplash

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3–10, LSB

As Jesus gave what we call the Beatitudes in His sermon on the mount, He was preparing those who were listening and us who now hear it for suffering. We will suffer, but in the midst of our suffering, God wants us to know that there are blessings. For those who believe, we are blessed. It can be hard to think of being blessed when everything in the world seems to be crashing down, but when we look at the suffering of our Lord for us, we can know that He did it for us: every bruise, every cut, every lash. The suffering that our Lord faced goes far beyond the outside, but He also felt every act of sin that all humanity has done and will do for all time all at once. The weight of our lack of love, lack of obedience, and total rebellion against God for all time at once. In our moments of suffering, we can listen to these words and hear the promise of comfort, satisfaction, mercy, and the promise of God’s loving presence standing before us are all there. Our suffering is but a moment in comparison with the kingdom that stands before us. It is in this that we are blessed and through it, we may find peace.

Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.

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