Saturday, May 22nd 2021
Title: The Beatitudes
Author: Pastor Andrew Lim
Translator: Irene Hong
People long to have blessings, whether it is hanging couplets at home during New Year or greeting each other during birthdays, the content is mostly related to blessings. Although people have this hope in their hearts, but in reality, it may not be realized. Even though everyone has a different understanding on blessings, but the pursuit of happiness is the same.
THE BEAUTITUDES
The word “Blessed” in the original text means “of God”; it is a joy of having secrets hidden in it, a joy of satisfaction. It is a joy that will not be easily changed even when changes arise in life. The happiness of the world is easily lost, such as the loss of property, the loss of health, the failure of plans, and the shattering of ambitions quickly takes away happiness. Jesus especially teaches us:
- Blessed are the poor in spirit
Poor means extreme poverty, poor in spirit refers to spiritual poverty; it refers to a man who has nothing, humble, helpless, and totally trusting in God. This kind of person knows that he is poor, poor in moral strength, poor in knowledge of the truth, poor in holiness of life, and poor in all spiritual things. If such man is satisfied with such poorness, then he cannot receive any help and blessings from God; only if this person is aware that he or she is lacking in many ways, and needs the help and salvation of God, then he is blessed. - Blessed are those who mourn
To mourn means “Blessed are those who are broken hearted for the difficulties of the world and for his personal sins.” In the Bible, we often see this kind of repenting sorrow. For example, the tax collector who went to the temple to pray beat his chest and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” The sinful woman washed the feet of the Lord with her tears. The prodigal son repented when he realized his sins and returned to his father to confess his sins and asked for his forgiveness. Blessed are these people who are willing to be broken for their sins. They will receive God’s forgiveness and comfort, and their spirits will be set free. - Blessed are the meek
Meek means “Blessed are those who get angry at the right time and never get angry at the wrong time.” A meek person never complains or argues, even if he or she is subjected to unreasonable, injustice and all kinds of uncomfortable things. Those who are meek are not willing to feel resentment and revenge, but rather suffer losses themselves. They are patient, tolerant to the wicked, repay grievances with virtue, and respond to anger with gentle words. Jesus said: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
Hunger and thirst in Greek means “I am thirsty due to lack of water.” This means “Blessed are those who desire all righteousness just as hungry people desire food.” Everyone has desires. Some people are hungry for fame, some thirsty for power, others are thirsty for love, and there are also some who love blindly. But what Christians desire is justice. Righteousness is the attribute of God to show the holiness of God. So hunger and thirst for righteousness means eager to be like God and to please Him. - Blessed are the merciful
The word “merciful” not only expresses sympathy for a person on the surface or sad over others’ problems, but penetrates into the depths of a person’s heart. Therefore, “Blessed are those who enter into the depths of people’s hearts, observe with others’ eyes, think with others’ insights, and feel with others’ feelings.” Christians should have mercy towards others. Merciful is not only about inner feelings, but more so in action, especially during this pandemic, many people are suffering from different kinds of pain. If you are able, you can do your best to experience and to help those people who are in need spiritually, financially, or materially. - Blessed are the pure in heart
Pure in heart originally means clean and honest, not hash, and not disguised.
It means “Blessed are people with absolutely pure motives, because everyone will have to meet God one day.” Every sin will stain the hearts of people. Therefore, if a person is to be truly pure, he or she must be pure entirely in thoughts, desires, and conscience, then his behavior can be right. Of course, man alone is absolutely impossible to achieve this— we need to rely on God’s power and gifts to achieve it. Therefore, we need to ask the Lord to keep our actions and minds clean and clear. - Blessed are the peacemakers
Do not irritate others, do not have conflict with others, be in harmony, and be willing to be a peaceful person. The meaning is “Blessed are those who establish a good relationship between people.” Christ is the Prince of Peace. He brings three types of peace to the world. The first is the reconciliation of the relationship between man and God. The second is that Christ gave His disciples an inner peace that the world could not give. The third is that Christ brings peace to mankind. Christ’s job is to achieve peace, so He requires us as Christians to also be peacemakers and become children of peace. - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness” means “blessed are those who suffer for Christ.” Jesus once told His disciples that they would suffer persecution by others because they followed the Lord and adhered to His teachings. But such people who suffer for the gospel of Christ are blessed. Blessed are people who sincerely do God’s will, please Him in all aspects, and live a devout life in Christ, but are misunderstood and persecuted by others.
The Chinese always says: have blessings, have blessings. The Chinese word blessing is “fu”, add a “qi” (as a verb) after the word blessing, which means people will suffer from unfair treatments such as “insults” while being blessed. So blessings and “insults” or ‘fu qi’ is connected.
Prayer: Lord! Please let me not treasure the blessings of the world, because these blessing are not usually realized, or easily lost. Please let me take up the yoke of Jesus Christ and learn from Christ, learn from His gentleness and be humble, so that my soul may find rest in You, and receive the blessings that You want us to receive in the beatitudes. Sincerely pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!
每日灵粮
星期六
2021年5月22日
题目:八福
作者: 林金仪
福分人人都渴望拥有，无论是过年在家挂上对联，或者是生日彼此祝福，内容多是与福分有关，尽管人人内心都有这种盼望，但事实并非尽如人意。虽然每个人对福气的理解不同，但是追求幸福的心思都是相同的。
耶稣登山宝训论八福
这”福”字在原文的意思是属神的，是一种内中藏有秘密的喜乐，心满意足的喜乐。是完全不受生命中机遇变迁而容易更易的喜乐。世界的快乐很容易失去，财产的更易，健康的丧失，计划的失败，雄心万丈的破碎都很快就把快乐夺去。耶稣特别教导我们：
一、 虚心的人有福了
虚心意为极端贫乏，乃指灵里的贫穷。一无所有、谦卑、无助、完全信靠上帝的人。这种人自知贫穷，在道德力量上贫穷，在真理知识上贫穷，在生命圣洁上贫穷，以及所有属灵的事上无一而不成贫穷。若已经感到自己非常满足，那就再也不能收到神的帮助和福气，而当人感到自己有所不足，需要神的帮助和拯救，这才是有福的。
二、哀恸的人有福了
哀恸意思就是”凡为世上的艰难，与他自己的罪恶而心碎的人，有福了。”圣经中我们常看到这种悔罪的忧伤。例如上圣殿祷告的税吏捶着胸说：”神啊，开恩可怜我这个罪人”。那犯罪的女人眼泪湿了主的脚。浪子觉悟了他罪的时候就悔改，回到他父亲那里去认罪求饶恕。这些愿意为罪心碎的人是有福的，他们必得神的宽恕和安慰，心灵得释放。
三、温柔的人有福了
温柔意为”凡在适当的时候发怒，在不适当的时候从不发怒的人有福了。”温柔的人从不抱怨、不争辩，即使受到不合理，不公道和种种难受的事，却仍不愿意生怨恨和报复之心，宁可自己吃亏。是富有忍耐，对恶人也宽容，是以德报怨，以柔和的话回答愤怒的言语。耶稣说：你們當負起我的軛，向我學，因為我心地柔和、謙卑。這樣，你們就將尋得靈魂的安息。
四、饥渴慕义的人有福了
希腊文的饥与渴，意为”我因缺水而干渴。”这意思就是”凡渴望全部的公义，如同饥饿的人渴望食物，这样的人有福了。”所有的人都有渴望，有些人求名如饥，有些人争权如渴，有些人争爱如渴，甚至乱爱。而基督徒所渴望的乃是公义。公义是神的属性，表明神的圣洁。所以饥渴慕义就是切望像神并讨神的喜悦。
五、怜恤人的人有福了
“怜恤”这个词不仅是在表面上对一个人的同情，为别人的困难难过，而是进入人内心的深处。所以”凡进入人内心的深处，以别人的眼光观察，以别人的见解思想，以别人的心情感受的人有福了。”基督徒对别人要存怜恤之心。怜恤也不仅是在内心感受上，更是在实际行动上，特别是在这一次的疫情里，许多人承受着不同类型的痛苦，如若您有能力，可尽您能力所能，去体会和帮助心灵、经济或物品有需要的人。
六、清心的人有福了
清心在原义为纯洁，不混杂，不伪装。意思就是”动机绝对纯正的人有福了，因为终有一天每一个人必得见上帝。”每一种罪都会玷污人的心，因此一个人要做到真正的纯洁，他一定要在他整个人的全部思想，愿望和良心中清洁，这样他的行为才是对的。当然，这靠人自己是绝对做不到的，只要靠神的大能和神的恩赐，方能做到，因此需要求主保守我们手洁心清。
七、使人和睦的人有福了
不惹人生气、不随便和人冲突、和睦、愿意成为和平的人。意思就是”凡建立人与人之间良好关系的人有福了。”基督是和平之君，他带给世人的和平有三种：第一是人与神的关系和好。第二是基督赐给他的门徒非世界所能给的内心的平安。第三是基督使人从此和睦。基督的工作就是成就和平，所以他要求我们基督徒也要做使人和平的人，成为和平之子。
八、为义受逼迫的人有福了
“为义受逼迫的人有福了”就是”为基督受苦的人有福了”。耶稣曾经告诉门徒，他们因为跟从主，坚守主的教训的缘故，将要遭受别人的逼迫。但这种为基督的福音而受苦的人是有福的。诚心遵行神旨意，在各方面讨神喜悦，在基督里过虔诚的生活，却受到别人的误会、逼迫，这种人是有福的。中国人常说：有福气，有福气。福字后面加上一个气，就说出：人得福的同时也受了不少气。所以福气是相连的。
祷告：主啊！求祢让我看重的不是世界上的福气，因为这种福气并非尽如人意，甚至也容易失去。求祢让我負起耶稣基督的轭，向基督学习，学习基督的柔和、謙卑。并寻得灵魂在祢里面的安息，得着祢所愿我们得着的八福。诚心祷告是奉耶稣的名。阿门！