Reflection for March 14

In the Beatitudes, Jesus offers a declaration of what it means to be truly happy. It is a state of blessedness that begins with a shift from physical survival to a deep spiritual longing. Before we can be filled, we must recognize our own sinful brokenness and mourn it, finding our comfort in God’s grace rather than our own merit. As Martyn Lloyd Jones suggests, we often overestimate our own goodness, yet the path to the Kingdom requires the meekness exemplified by Jesus—a strength under control that we will see vividly on Palm Sunday as He enters Jerusalem. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst. We can look at the Greek terms for hunger and thirst. Peinao means to be hungry or seek with eager desire. Dipsao means thirst but not just the need to sip water. It is an intense thirst and longing for water lest you die. We hunger, thirst, and crave for things in life, and we often allow ourselves to be dragged away by worldly desires like greed, power, malice, and envy. When we pivot toward God’s righteousness, we find the source that satisfies us. God is there for us, and we can live with God’s justice. We can ask God to use and mold us. We can be people who are a blessing. We can serve, give, and love our enemies with righteousness that flows from God. Pastor Jason asked us a good question to ponder: “Is the basis of my Christianity from a confidence in what I’ve done OR is it a confidence in Jesus and what He has done? If you think it has been on you, you might start hungering and thirsting for righteousness.” Reflections from Deborah Kelly. Share your reflections with deborah@rbcommunity.org and let me know your thoughts.