Got Comfort?

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Comfort is big business. There are over 9,000 mattress stores in this country–more than Starbucks franchises, if you can believe it! Manufacturers ship 39 million mattresses every year. Add to that 6 million air conditioners and a few million recliners and you can see that we like to be comfy around here! Many people spend a lot of money trying to get comfortable–whether it’s buying cushy mattresses and nice furniture, or building big bank accounts to guard against the uncertainties of life.

Did you know that God promises to comfort us? In Matthew 5, Jesus begins His first major public discourse, commonly called “The Sermon on the Mount.” We see nine statements of blessing for the follower of Christ. The second one contains the promise of God’s comfort. It is given to those who mourn. The word carries with it the idea of deep inner grief, or pain. When we look at the entire context here, we realize that Jesus is talking about mourning for our sinfulness. In Psalm 51:17, David said it this way, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” You see, God desires our vulnerability, our admission of need, our willingness to call our sin what it is. God desires our sorrow for sin. The wonderful thing about calling sin what it is? There is a cure for sin! Jesus promises that when we truly are sorrowful and repentant for our sin, He will forgive and comfort us!

Friends, know this–you cannot manufacture your own comfort. No matter what you have in your life, it will never be enough. Mourn for your sin and be comforted.

-Pastor Mike