Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity – Monday

Job mourns his plight

Blessed are they that mourn; for the shall be comforted. – Matthew 5:4.

True Christians, God’s children, mourn here on earth. Why so?

Their sin causes them to grieve and mourn. They are not as the rude and carnal-minded men who sport with sin. They are born again by the Spirit of God and desire earnestly to serve God with a pure heart and with good works that are pleasing in His sight; and it grieves them that sin still dwells within them and exerts such a powerful influence upon them. Read the lamentation of St. Paul in Romans 7:14-24, where he finally exclaims: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

The sin of others grieves them too, and they mourn because of it. What sad things they must see and experience! How the world does run into destruction! How many fall from faith? Nor are the Christians exempt from this earth’s misery which befalls all mankind. And besides this, the hatred of the devil and of the wicked world is directed against them especially. And, moreover, they must crucify their own flesh, which can be painful. And in addition to all this, they experience the chastisement of God, which is not joyous but grievous, though it is gracious and wholesome.

Yes, indeed, true Christians and children of God mourn here on earth. But they are blessed. For, being the children of God, they shall be comforted. They shall be comforted by God’s grace and mercy, even here on earth. God Himself comforts them through His Word and the Holy Spirit, working through that Word. God speaks words of tender love to their hearts, telling them that He loves them; that all their sins have been fully forgiven for Christ’s sake; that He desires them to remain His dear children, though world, sin, and hell combine against them; that He will cause all, yes, all things to work together for good to them. Then the light of heavenly comfort burns brightly within them. And in the blessed life to come, the light of God’s love will utterly and completely dispel all the darkness of sorrow.

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

PRAYER – Come, Lord Jesus, and do to me according to Thy Word! Help me to bear patiently and without complaint the sorrows that come upon Christians here on earth, and comfort me with the promises of Thy love in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And after this life, let me graciously enjoy the fullness of joy and comfort that await me and all believers in the mansions of eternal bliss. Amen.

Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image e’er conform;

Heaven’s glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm.

Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap in heav’nly joy;

And the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow.

Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me!

Hymn 409, 2.(TLH)