A L M A C I A S

SOME QUALITIES OF A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN

It is very interesting to read in the New Testament some of the lessons that were taught by those of the first century. I say interesting, because these men were inspired of God as they went about preaching and teaching others. But we all must admit that of all those who preached in the first century, the most outstanding was the Lord Jesus Christ. As we study some of His sermons, we find that He was a man who could say a great deal with just a few words. Today we find that in the sermons preached by many, and in their writings, many words are used to say very little, while others will use very few words and, like Jesus, are able to say a lot.

In the sermon on the mount, which is found in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, we find that Jesus was a preacher and a teacher with no equals. With but few words, He could teach deep and very important lessons for those who desired to be His followers. For instance, we read in Matthew 5:3-6 where the Lord said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." As we analyze this passage of Scripture, we would say that what the Lord described as blessed would not be what the world would call blessed. First of all, the word "blessed" means to be happy. Among the Jews of those days, and many today, the belief was that only the rich and wealthy were the blessed of God. So, when the Lord said that the blessed were the poor in spirit, many did not understand. Of course, in this passage, "poor in spirit" has nothing to do with a person's earthly wealth. The poor in spirit are those who understand that they are in great need of the spiritual. Because they know this, they are all the more diligent to seek God and His Word.

"Blessed are they that mourn." This saying of Jesus almost seems like a contradiction since it means that one who is grieving should be happy. How could this be possible? Either you are grieving, or you are happy. What the Lord was discussing here was not just any kind of mourning, but rather those who mourned for the spiritual. This group of people were those who mourned for their sins as well as for the sins of others. How many of us feel sad when we have done that which is wrong, or when we see others doing the same? The apostle Paul wept because so many Jews would not obey the Gospel, but rather would oppose it with much conviction.

Finally, we have those who were meek being included in the blessed. To be meek is not to be weak. The meek are those who are able to control their characters. This group of people do the best they can to control their tempers even when they find themselves in the midst of very difficult people or circumstances. Moses was considered the meekest of those in the Old Testament. Why would anyone say this? Because Moses found himself surrounded by some of the most difficult people this world has ever known; and yet, for most of the time, he was able to control himself. When we analyze our character, could we be called "blessed?"