Blessed Are The Meek

Meditations for Ragamuffins 

January 18, 2024

Blessed Are The Meek

“Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.”

Matthew 5:5

We know from the Gospels that the Psalms had a great influence on Jesus as he quoted them often. While he does not quote a particular psalm in the Beatitudes, the influence is clear. His pronouncement, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” is an affirmation of the old and very wise teacher who crafted Psalm 37. The essential message of the psalm is in verses 5-6: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Jesus’ reference to the meek is for those who surrender control of their lives to God.  The meek are those who are willing to be an instrument of grace used by God. This is a very profound, yet simple way to pattern your life. First, you commit your life to God. Second, you exercise faith in God by trusting Him with your life. Third, God will act.

This pattern is simple in form, but very difficult to implement in our lives. We live in a culture that values strength, independence, and self-reliance. Meekness and humility, are not highly regarded in the world’s culture. Like Jesus’ first disciples, we would rather have a vision of a great army waiting for their King to lead them into battle. However, instead of a mighty King dressed in battle armor and riding a big horse, a humble shepherd walks to the head of the army. No armor. No weapon. And he expects his army to dismount, remove their armor, drop their weapons, and follow him. I find my willingness to drop my armor and follow my humble Master increases the more I keep my eye on the prize. (However, we do keep the Armor of God. See Ephesians 6:10-17)

The psalmist is not very specific about how God will act, but the description is rather breathtaking; “. . .  your vindication like the noonday sun.” The psalmist is trying to describe the wonder, beauty and awe associated with being in the presence of God. The reward for faithfulness to God is being in perfect peace as you rest in the presence of your Heavenly Father. Seven times the psalmist refers to the blessing of God as, “The godly will possess the land and will live there forever” (Psalm 37:29). This means the reward is eternal. This is what it means to “inherit the earth.”

My Takeaway: Our culture bombards us with messages that rewards and blessings must be tangible and received in the here and now. But God’s blessings are His presence with us, now and forever.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Meditations for Ragamuffins 

January 17, 2024

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Matthew 5:4

“God blesses those who mourn” is often quoted at funerals or when someone is going through a time of personal suffering or grief. As I noted in the preceding Beatitude, while God certainly cares deeply for all people, including those who are suffering and grieving, Jesus has in mind here those who mourn over their sins and the sins of the world.

One way to think about the core values of the life in Christ is to remember the three essential H’s: hunger for God, heart for people, and hatred of sin. Those who are blessed as spiritual beggars in the first Beatitude are spiritually poor because they have a hunger for God. Those who mourn in this Beatitude grieve for the way their sins have hurt God and diminished their own life. As a Christian, my life belongs to God; by creation and redemption I belong to God. My sins not only cause pain and suffering in my own life, but they are also an affront to God and to Christ Jesus, “who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20b). Jesus is pronouncing a blessing on those who are brokenhearted over the way they have allowed sin to diminish their humanity. Jesus is pronouncing a blessing on those who grieve over how their sins have insulted the character and integrity of their Abba.

Those who mourn also have a heart for people and are grieving over the state of affairs in our world. God created us to be in community, and across the world we have countless millions of neighbors who are in dire straits. Famine, oppression, poverty, war and evil of all kinds is devastating God’s world and His children who have been created in His image. The people of God mourn over the way sin has disfigured God’s creation. Those who mourn are taking up the lament of the psalmist David in Psalm 13: “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? (Psalm 13:2 NLT).

There is no easy answer to this question; but as David noted in this psalm, the wait is not without purpose and great blessings. As David turned to God, he found God turning to him. (See also James 4:8) God restored the sparkle to David’s eyes and David sang praises to God. In those times, when our soul cries out to God, "How long,” David inspires us to turn to God and remember “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

My Takeaway: This is the comfort received by those who mourn their sins: “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (Romans 5:11 NLT).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Meditations for Ragamuffins

January 16, 2024

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 are Jesus’ description of the life in Christ. These pronouncements by Jesus reveal the character traits of the citizens of the Kingdom of God. Each of the Beatitudes begins with the statement, “Blessed are” which can also be translated, “Happy are” or “Joyful are.” Six of the Beatitudes promise a future reward while two, “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” (v. 3) and “Blessed are the Persecuted” (v.10) promise a present-tense blessing.

“God blesses those who are poor” is sometimes thought of as God’s concern for the economic poor. While God certainly cares deeply for all people, including the poor, the widows and orphans, Jesus has in mind here the poor in spirit. Tom Long calls Jesus’ intended audience “spiritual beggars,” and I think that is entirely appropriate (Matthew, Thomas G. Long, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville 1997, page 48). When we are spiritual beggars, we recognize we need help; we recognize we can’t save ourselves, no matter what we do.  All we can do is plead for mercy. Jesus says this is the key to our right-standing relationship with God.

Speaking to the spiritual beggars, Jesus says the Kingdom of God is theirs. Now. This instant. No wonder these spiritual beggars are blessed, joyful and happy. Noted theologian and scholar Bishop N.T. Wright says that the heart of the gospel is the fact that “what is true for the Messiah is true of his people.” Wright explains this truth this way: “the Messiah died, so his people die in him, sharing his suffering; the Messiah rose again, so his people rise again in him, knowing the power of the resurrection to comfort and heal, already in present time, and cherishing the hope that one day they will be given new, resurrection bodies like the one the Messiah himself has now” (Tom Wright, Paul for Everyone 2 Corinthians (London, SPCK) p.4). Spiritual beggars are given the same right standing with God as that which Jesus enjoys. Now. This instant. Again, no wonder these spiritual beggars are blessed, joyful and happy.

My Takeaway: Jesus’ people do not have some Pollyanna, head-in-the clouds, blind faith. Jesus’ people are most assuredly aware of the state of this world. We see the same abuses, oppression, war, sickness, droughts, and famines as the rest of the world, but we also are convinced of the coming Kingdom of God when God will make all things right. This faith in the return of Christ brings a present experience of God “our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3b-4 NLT).

Hallelujah and amen!

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Our Father

Meditations for Ragamuffins 

January 15, 2024

Our Father

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Psalm 31:5 NRSV

Sometimes, when Jesus quoted scripture, he added his own interpretation. We see this in Psalm 8:2, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength.”  At Matthew 21:16, Jesus quotes this verse saying, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’”

Jesus also added his interpretation to Psalm 31. Verse five states, “Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.” In Jesus’ final cry from the Cross, he quotes this verse as, “‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ The expression, O LORD was a formal, very reverent, rendering of the name of God. On the Cross, Jesus changed this expression to, Father, and expressed the intimacy of parent and child.

Throughout Psalm 31, David is expressing his trust in God as he moves immediately from petition to affirmation: “Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger” (Psalm 31:2b-3 NLT). David’s foundation for trust is not in his own worthiness to receive God’s care; rather, his foundation is the grace of God.

Over and over again, David communicates the wonders of trusting in God’s care: “But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection. Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love. He kept me safe. Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 31:14, 19, 21, 23, 24 NLT).

My Takeaway: Jesus takes all these gracious expressions for the love and care of God and teaches us to come before God’s throne, as his children, praying, “Our Father, who art in heaven . . .”

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Joy Comes With The Morning

Meditations for Ragamuffins 

January 12, 2024

Joy Comes With The Morning

“weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5

The instructions before verse one of Psalm 30 refer to the dedication of the Temple. From about 160 B.C., the Jews included this psalm in their celebration of Hanukkah. Judas Maccabaeus led Israel against a foreign army that had invaded Israel and defeated them. Maccabaeus led the people to purify the Temple and to hold a festival every year to commemorate the rededication of the Temple. This festival, Hanukkah, which means dedication, is held at a time on the Jewish calendar that is close to our December 25 date.

When David wrote this psalm, he was remembering all the suffering and the feelings of abandonment he experienced during the period King Saul was pursuing him across all of Israel. The people of Israel had very similar feelings under the oppression of the foreign invaders, so this psalm was an appropriate expression of their joy when the yoke of the oppressors was broken.

The author of the New Testament letter, Hebrews, calls us to look “unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 KJV). When I read that verse, I recall the encouraging prose of Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (NLT)

My Takeaway: David, in Psalm 30, gives us the same encouragement as the writer of Hebrews. In times of sickness or distress, we are encouraged to keep our eyes on Jesus. When we do, we can sing with the psalmist,

You turned my wailing into dancing;

   you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

   LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 30:11-12

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

For With the Lord There Is Unfailing Love

Meditations for Ragamuffins 

January 11, 2024

For With the Lord There Is Unfailing Love

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12 

People often talk about being “burned-out.” It has become a bit of a cliché and almost trite to say it. However, burn-out is one of the most tragic, and at times deadliest, fruits of our society. Burn-out is more than being tired and needing a vacation, or a change of pace. Burn-out occurs when you realize that what you had hoped for in life is not going to be realized. Have you ever seen Greyhound racing or dog racing commercials on TV? A fake rabbit is attached to the rail of the track and always travels at a faster pace than the dogs can run. Some of the dogs eventually realize they will never catch the rabbit and just give up; they stop racing. That’s burn-out. King Solomon’s greatest understatement is “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” Hope deferred, hope lost, can kill. A person experiencing burn-out may not be dead, but their life feels dead to them.

Some people may seem to have great inward strength, great tenacity, as they seem to play the games of life endlessly. On the outside, it may appear they are juggling all the balls of life well and keeping them all in the air. The reality is an inward weariness and boredom as their life feels like drudgery. Our innate appetite to be loved, accepted, and valued is insatiable. It never, ever goes away. Even when people become aware, like the Greyhound, that they are not going to catch the rabbit, the aching hunger to be loved, accepted, and valued remains.

My Takeaway: There is but one, and only one cure for a heart sick because of deferred hope: Jesus.

   “hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.”

                                                                        Psalm 130:7

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Sufficiency of Grace

Meditations for Ragamuffins 

January 10, 2024

The Sufficiency of Grace

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

 Romans 5:1-2a 

When the Apostle Paul took his issue with a thorn in his flesh to God, the answer he received was, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). While Saint Paul was writing about his particular concern at that time, he would be quick to add that God’s response to all the issues we face in life is always, “My grace is sufficient for you.” That response leads us to ask ourselves whether God’s grace is enough for us.

Certainly, we believe in the sufficiency of God’s grace to make us right in God’s sight. We know that God saved us by his grace when we believed. And we can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God, so none of us can boast about having been made right in God’s sight. Where we question the sufficiency of God’s grace is in the everyday ebb and flow of our lives.

We share our core needs with every other human being: the need to be loved, to be accepted and to have a sense of self-worth. How do we meet our needs? The culture around us meets these needs by playing the games of life. Using manipulation, intimidation, or whatever ego strengths they have, people play the money game, the security game, the gender game, the power game, the knowledge game, the expert game, whatever games they can master to satisfy their longings to be loved, to be accepted and for self-worth.

Over and against this backdrop, we hear our Abba Father gently whisper in our soul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Do we truly believe our Abba? Do we believe enough to drop out of the games people play?

My Takeaway: When we exit the playing fields and begin to trust in the sufficiency of God’s grace to meet our needs for love, acceptance and self-worth, we will soon realize that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38-39).

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.