There are times in life that pain, grief, and depression become too much.  Silently we seek for some relief, something to bring joy and happiness into our gloomy lives. 

We try to find that joy in our work.  Daily, we pour forth great effort and time only to come up empty.  Still, we work, trying to prove ourselves, trying to demonstrate our worth, our value.  But, time crawls by, nothing happens, and we are back at the beginning.

So, we turn to our hobbies.  Every effort again is poured into this new venture.  With great diligence, we fling ourselves into our hobby(ies) trying to find joy and happiness.  And again, we come up empty, disillusioned, and confused.

There are other avenues, we try our family or spouse.  Plans are made.  Trips are taken, family nights are tried, and even date nights with our spouse are ensued.  Again, we come up empty.  The family makes other plans, the spouse is caught up in work or children, and as before we returned to the beginning dazed and confused.

God does enter the equation.  Only, He enters as a genie.  We expect Him to fulfill wants and wishes.  It does not enter our mind just to ask Him to give us what we need.  We need Him and only Him. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11: 28

There is a story that I have heard for years.  It goes like this:

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.”

 “Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.

The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.

The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'”

Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.”
The captain said, “Send: “I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.'”

“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.”

By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'”

Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.”

We changed course.

Light can help direct a life.  Does your life shine to help others from crashing on the rocks of life?

Let your light shine before men.

Over a hundred years ago, man used salt as a preservative.  Meat was rubbed in salt, and then stored in barrels.  It would last up to two months, sometimes longer. 

Salt was also connected with purity.  During the time of Jesus, the purest mineral was salt.  It was highly valued for by the Romans because of its glistening whiteness. 

Most of all, salt adds flavor.  Take any food, add salt, and the flavor explodes in your mouth.  Food without salt can taste sickening.

Jesus used salt to describe the impact of a follower of His upon the world.  His followers are preservatives.  We keep things from going bad.  We take on corruption and make things better for others.

We are also examples of purity.  Our lives show what it means to be pure through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Through love, compassion, and patience we bring good to the world and a message that saves.

Most of all we are examples of living a full life. It is saddening to see so many “Christians” live as if they were undertakers.  Jesus did not come to stop living, but to give life.  We demonstrate living.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we show the world what is real living.  We are upbeat, positive, encouraging, enjoying each moment, enjoying all of creation, giving love to all.

If followers of Jesus Christ are not salt, they are useless to the Kingdom.  Jesus saw our usefulness demonstrating it through this small example.  Be salt, be useful, and most of all live for Him.

You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses it saltines, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

Matthew 5: 13

Being a follower of Jesus Christ is no picnic.  A true follower is often mocked by those who are “religious.”  It was no different for Jesus.  When He walked the earth, it was the religious people who tried to stop His ministry.  They often complained about His miracles, His teachings, and His compassion to the outcast.  According to the religious people of His day, Jesus could do nothing right.

That is often true when it comes to religion and following Jesus.  Religion is man made.  It is formed by man with man’s laws, rules, and regulations.  The design of religion is to make the member feel better.  No surrender is required, just attend all the functions, deposit the correct amount of tithe, and participate in as many functions as your schedule can allow, and you are religious.

Following Jesus requires surrendering to His will.  Jesus did not come to install more rules and regulations.  Instead, He came to abolish the law, allowing mankind to come directly to God.  God gives His love directly to those who follow His Son.  There is no manmade barrier, just a direct, loving, and compassionate relationship with the very one who created you.

Problems will always arise when following Jesus.   Jesus stated that there would be problems, but His solution was to rejoice and look forward to the rewards you will receive in heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5: 11 & 12

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8

Out of all the Beatitudes, this is the most demanding.  The word for pure in the Greek means unmixed.  Therefore, this verse can be translated:

Blessed is the man whose motives are always entirely unmixed,

for he shall see God.

In the man or woman lies freedom from self-satisfaction, pride, prejudice, contempt, and selfishness.  Their heart is not polluted by the world or self, but is found free and able to see the Almighty clearly.  

Even today, the church has established smoke screens so that the ordinary person can not see the Almighty with out the theological help of a trained minister. 

To see God there can be no mixture of world and self, but freedom. 

A farmer went each week to the Farmers’ Market to sell, among other things, the cottage cheese and apple butter made on his farm. He carried these in two large tubs, from which he ladled the cottage cheese or apple butter into smaller containers the customer brought.

One day he got to market and discovered he’s forgotten one ladle. He felt he had no choice but to use the one he had for both products.

Before long he couldn’t tell which was which.

How mixed up is your life?  Become focused and free, look for God.

Years after the death of President Calvin Coolidge, this story came to light. In the early days of his presidency, Coolidge awoke one morning in his hotel room to find a cat burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm he wanted to keep. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and discovered he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet — which he had also persuaded the dazed young man to give back! — declared it to be a loan, and advised the young man to leave the way he had come so as to avoid the Secret Service! (Yes, the loan was paid back.)

What is given is received.  When one gives mercy that individual understands mercy.  Mercy is rooted in understanding, unbiased listening, caring, forgiving and forgetting, When mercy is given, it is received from man, but also from God.

What have you given away lately?

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matthew 5:7

In the Antarctic summer of 1908-9, Sir Ernest Shackleton and three companions attempted to travel to the South Pole from their winter quarters. They set off with four ponies to help carry the load. Weeks later, their ponies dead, rations all but exhausted, they turned back toward their base, their goal not accomplished.

Altogether, they trekked 127 days. On the return journey, as Shackleton records in The Heart of the Antarctic, the time was spent talking about food — elaborate feasts, gourmet delights, sumptuous menus. As they staggered along, suffering from dysentery, not knowing whether they would survive, every waking hour was occupied with thoughts of eating. 

What is your obsession?  What drives you during your waking hours?  Is it your family, relationships, or work?  Your obsession is your motivation for life.

Jesus stated that the one blessed of God is that individual whose obsession rests in being right with God.  What about your obsession?  Are you concerned with being right with God, morally, spiritually, and emotionally or is it something else?

God has promised that he will satisfy your hunger, if He is your obsession.  Is He?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5: 6

According to Bill Farmer’s newspaper column, J. Upton Dickson was a fun-loving fellow who said he was writing a book entitled Cower Power. He also founded a group of submissive people. It was called DOORMATS. That stands for “Dependent Organization Of Really Meek And Timid Souls — if there are no objections.” Their motto was: “The meek shall inherit the earth — if that’s okay with everybody.” They symbol was the yellow traffic light.

As I wonder the halls of life, I am astonished at man’s view concerning prestige.  Man evaluates everyone according to power, money, and materialism.  “The one with the most toys wins.”  Those who are meek or humble are considered inferior and weak.

But that is far from the truth.  I have discovered that meek or humble people have far superior strength and will than others.  They have come to an understanding about themselves in light of God and mankind.  Having a firm understanding of their place, they launch out in life, living every moment to the fullest, while helping others grow to their full potential.

Having an understanding of who you are, is the first important step in a healthy life.  Meek people live because they understand their imperfections, accept them, embrace them, and then leave them with God.  He will take them and use them for His glory.  

Blessed are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5: 5

Dr. R. A. Torrey, founder of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, lost his twelve-year-old daughter in an accident.  The funeral was on a rainy day.  They stood there beside that hole in the ground, surrounded by loved ones.  It was dark and dismal.  Mrs. Torrey said to her husband, “I’m so glad Elizabeth is not in that box.”  Their grief went home with them that night as they tried to sleep.

Dr. Torrey got up in the morning and went for a walk.  A wave of grief broke over him, anew, the loneliness of her absence, the terrible feeling knowing they would never hear her laughter again, never see her face, never witness her growth. He couldn’t take it.  And he leaned against the street light and he looked up and he began to pray.  This is what he experienced: “And just then the fountain, the Holy Spirit, whom I had in my heart, broke forth with such power as I think I had never experienced before.  And it was the most joyful moment I had ever known in my life!  It is an unspeakably glorious thing to have within you a fountain ever springing up, springing up, springing up, ever springing up 365 days in every year, springing up under all circumstances.”

God cures true grief, especially grief from sin.  He brings comfort and peace.  Just ask Him.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5: 5