Who will inherit the earth
The Oxford definition of meek is quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on. In this modern era, meekness is often associated with weakness or with someone who is easily swayed and taken advantage of. So much so that people who tend to feel superior, conceited because of their authority, status, or being simply innate in them to do so, heavily imposed their influence on the meek person.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5"
We often see this situation occurring in everyday life, and it comes in many forms where a meek person becomes the victim. In school, one bullies another; within families, the dominant sibling intimidates the other; in corporate offices, one oppresses someone, often under the guise of poor performance or other excuses to expel someone who no longer merits the superior's preference.
We can explore the limitless aspects of this kind of social issue, from harmful leadership biases to mere stereotyping of an individual. One thing is for sure: in the biblical sense, meekness is not considered a weakness but a strength.
In the Bible, Jesus speaks directly to his disciples about meekness as a vital virtue, emphasizing a posture of humility, gentleness, and total reliance on God. Meekness represents superior control of oneself, reflecting an inner strength —a powerful characteristic of Jesus. As true believers, we will inherit the earth by being meek. We have obtained this inheritance through the Holy Spirit, in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:11-14).
It is a challenge to be meek when you know that any moment you can be judged as weak, nice, ineffective; someone who is a pushover, but take heed because deep within you lies a spiritual strength, and gentleness, better than the mighty (Proverbs 16:32). Contrastingly, the harsh individual is likened to a city that is broken into and without walls (Proverbs 25:28). Destructive behavior has no place in a believer’s life. On the other hand, gentleness must not be misinterpreted as lacking conviction. Jesus has repeatedly lashed out at the Pharisees because of their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13-16).
In modern culture, those who excel are the strong, the powerful, and intelligent people who take every opportunity to put themselves forward. There is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but for true believers, our standard of meekness has always been Jesus Christ in everything we do and aspire to be. Jesus Christ characterizes humility when he says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29).
Blessed are those who mourn
I mentioned in the previous post that being poor in spirit is a passport to God's kingdom. This time, let me share the second blessing Jesus taught His disciples. Matthew 5:4 says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
There are several interpretations of the word "mourn" in this verse that have been written, but I would deal with what is familiar to us - mourning the death of a loved one.
After the loss of my father in 2016, I went back to Sydney to resume my work after having been away for two weeks. It was not easy to fly back when my thoughts were filled with the memories of my father. Since my mom died two decades ago, he has lived by himself alone. Occasionally, my three sisters would pay a visit, while I did my part as often as I could. I was the youngest of five siblings.
My eldest brother, who was my father's neighbor in our hometown, rarely saw him to check on my father's well-being. My brother passed away ten years before my father's death.
Why am I mentioning this? As you can see, I have mourned a lot due to the numerous deaths that have happened in my life, and that is excluding my grandmother, who left us due to old age. I grew up under her care during my elementary days.
Jesus knows what grieving is. He mourned when His friend, Lazarus, died. The Bible passage says that Jesus wept (John 11:35) after arriving at Lazarus's tomb. This event shows the deep connection of Jesus to human suffering, highlighting the humanity of Jesus. He is not showing his deity but rather someone with deep empathy, who feels and experiences sorrow like everybody else.
When my friend's mother died, the only explanation I could sincerely share was that Jesus feels what everyone feels. Jesus, being God, cares for suffering as Psalm 56:8 says, "You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?"
In this life, every believer who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour has the Holy Spirit, also known as the "Comforter," who offers comfort in times of trouble, grief, and mourning. The ultimate comfort that Christians are looking forward to is described in the Bible as saying, "God will wipe away all tears, and there will be no more death, mourning, or pain," (Rev 21:4).
What does Matthew 5:4 mean to us? "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted," offers hope during grief and suffering, and Jesus reminds us that the pain we experience now cannot be replaced by the joy that awaits us in His Kingdom.
Poor in Spirit
Are you poor in spirit? How do you know you are in this state of poorness in spirit?
Often, we rely on our strengths and self-sufficiency because we know that we are financially stable and doing well in everything we do. There is nothing wrong with what we are doing. Our career is going well, and a promotion is just around the corner. Our earnings are relatively stable; we cannot ask for more.
Contrastingly, despite having all these material blessings to enjoy, we often feel as though we are in a state of emptiness.
The teaching of Jesus about "poor in spirit" happened when He went up on a mountainside and withdrew from the large crowds. There He sat down and began to teach His disciples (Mat 5:1). Take note that Jesus's teaching was directed to His disciples, which means those who believed in Him. Nowadays, Jesus speaks to Christians around the world. You might ask, but what about me, because I am not a believer? Please proceed to read the rest of the article.
There is a series of eight blessings, known as the Beatitudes, that Jesus discusses in His sermon on the Mount. The eight blessings describe the spiritual posturing and qualities that are valued in God's Kingdom. The first blessing is found in verse three of Matthew chapter 5, and it says:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The word "blessed" is derived from the Latin word, which means "happy" or "fortunate." It highlights virtues such as humility, mercy, purity, and righteousness, emphasizing that true blessings come from spiritual rather than worldly riches. The Greek word for "poor" is "ptochos", which signifies an entirely destitute person, reduced to begging, and emphasizing a state of utter dependence. Being poor in spirit, therefore, is one who recognises his spiritual emptiness, whose dependence is upon God for grace and favor.
There are four aspects of being "Poor in Spirit"
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Spiritual Humility: When one is spiritually bankrupt, they are unable to provide for themselves spiritually.
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Dependence on God: The person who is "poor in spirit" does not rely on his or her own strength, goodness, or righteousness, but lives as a "beggar" for God's mercy and grace.
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Recognition of God's Gifts: The person understands that every good thing he or she receives is a gift from God, not something earned.
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Spiritual Need: This posture acknowledges a profound need for God, akin to a person in dire straits, in need of resources.
One of the most excellent teachings of Jesus Christ is to be "poor in spirit," and it is a passport to God's Kingdom.
Psalms 100:5
"For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
I was doing the morning devotional when the Holy Spirit led me to this verse. Truly, the Lord God is good, for His love is unfathomable. He created the heavens and the earth. He prepared everything for us, the air we breathe and the water we drink.
We can only thank Him and be grateful for these wonderful blessings. When we wake up, don't we see the sun shining brightly, and the birds chirping in the trees? Out of our windows, I could hear this little bird calling out to its mother, while it jumped from branch to branch.
We're like the little bird. When we call out the name of our Lord, no matter what time of day, He is always there, assuring us that we are being looked after.
The grace sustains us to live another day and to experience the wonder of His creation. This is the reason why we exist: to thank Him and praise Him every morning as we open our eyes. He loves us for this small gesture because it means a lot to Him.
It is awesome in His sight to see us when we prioritize Him.
Why Being a Good Person Is Not Enough
In many cultures today, people believe that living a “good life” and “being a good person” is sufficient for acceptance with God. Acts of kindness, honesty, and generosity are commendable, yet the Bible makes clear that goodness alone cannot save humanity. Scripture teaches that all people, despite their best efforts, fall short of God’s perfect standard: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even our righteous deeds, apart from God, are compared to “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6), highlighting that moral effort cannot erase sin.
The central problem is not merely behavior but the human heart, which is described as “deceitful above all things and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). Goodness in outward conduct does not address the inward corruption of sin. Jesus Himself warned that not everyone who does good works in His name will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21–23). Thus, salvation cannot be earned by morality or human achievement.
Instead, Scripture points to God’s grace through faith in Christ as the only way to reconciliation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Being a good person reflects human effort, but salvation is the result of divine mercy demonstrated through the cross. Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
Application: For Christians today, this means goodness is not the goal in itself but the fruit of salvation. We are called to place faith in Christ first, allowing His Spirit to transform our hearts. From that transformation flow works of love, justice, and service that glorify God (James 2:17).
If you want to know more about how to be saved and have the right to be called son and daughter of God, chat with us today.
JESUS IS COMING
SOON
Prepare and Repent
The Gift of Turning Back
When John the Baptist and Jesus began preaching, their very first words were about repentance. That tells us something: repentance is not an afterthought—it is the starting point of life with God.
Repentance is more than saying “sorry” to God; yes, I know Jesus. It's not enough to say "sorry" or to say "I know Jesus." It is like turning a car around when it’s headed the wrong way. Spiritually, it means leaving the path of sin and walking toward Christ.
In these last days, the Bible says many will grow cold and deceived (Matthew 24:12). But God, in His mercy, still calls us to repent. Peter reminds us that the Lord delays judgment because He wants everyone to turn back (2 Peter 3:9). Repentance is not condemnation; it is an invitation.
Take a quiet moment today to ask:
Where do I need to turn back? Maybe it’s in my thoughts, my habits, or my relationships. Repentance is not weakness—it is opening the door for God’s grace to refresh us.
When we repent, we don’t just leave sin behind—we move toward Jesus, the source of life. Repentance is a gift that keeps us ready for His return. The King is coming. Let us live turned toward Him.
Prayer for Repentance
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray for your people, for your children, oh God, who's going to come and read this message. I pray that you give them the spirit of repentance. Father, I pray that you give them the ear to hear these things and to understand these things that you have spoken here today. Father, bless them, prepare them, grant them repentance, grant them holiness, grant them righteousness, oh, Father, prepare their families, prepare them, oh God, for the glorious return of Jesus.
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