Pastor Prince

  Medical science has developed amazing tests to look at our physical hearts.  They include catheterizations, CAT scans, MRIs and more.  They can even open our chests and examine our hearts with their own eyes.   But science will never develop a test that can look at our spiritual hearts.  That's our inner world of being, where we are who we are.   Ancient people believed their hearts were not only the center of their emotions, but also of their thoughts and will.  We say, "I thought."  They said, "I said in my heart."   In this context, Jesus spoke his sixth beatitude, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The word "pure" means to be "thoroughly clean," even "scoured."  To be pure in heart is to be pure in your inner world, in the place where only you and God can see. Many religious leaders in Jesus' day weren't pure in heart.  They felt as long as they were clean in the

When you're hungry, all you can think about is food.  When you're thirsty, all you can think about is water.  That's because these are our most basic needs.  If we don't have them, we die. In his fourth beatitude, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."  Blessed are those who deeply long for righteousness. The Greek word Jesus used for "righteousness" comes from a root that refers to a standard, like a plumb line.  If a builder held a plumb line against a wall and the wall matched its straightness, it was righteous.   Biblical writers used "righteousness" in the context of relationships.  Relationships bring standards or expectations with them.  When we get married, we make vows to each other.  When we fulfill our vows, we're righteous.  If we don't, we're unrighteous. Our most important relationship is with God.  When we meet the demands of our relationship with him, we'

In his third beatitude, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."   "Meek" is one of the most misunderstood words in the Bible.  When I think of "meek," I think of Clark Kent.  Superman's secret identity.  Apparently Superman thought it would be good to choose an alter-ego who was the opposite of himself.  Clark Kent is a meek, mild-mannered reporter for "The Daily Planet" who speaks softly and runs from danger. But the Greek word for "meek" in this passage doesn't describe someone who's shy and cowardly.  Instead, to refers to people who have their power under control.   So when you think of "meek," think of Superman, not Clark Kent!  Superman is extremely power, but he's disciplined in the exercise of it.  He could tear people apart, but he chooses not to kill. Two people described by the Bible as meek fit this idea: Moses and Jesus.  Numbers 12:1ff describes Mo

Nobody likes to grieve.  That's because we grieve when we've lost something.  And losing something is rarely good! But Jesus said in his second beatitude (Matthew 5:4) that those who mourn are blessed , because they will be comforted.  God will come alongside and help them in their loss. To be sure, God comforts us when we lose our loved ones.  I can testify to God's help in my own losses.  But I think Jesus was reaching beyond mourning the loss of our loved ones.  He was talking about mourning over our sin. In 2 Corinthians 7:8-10, the apostle Paul spoke of sorrow that led to repentance.  Godly sorrow can lead to good change.   Our great grandparents mourned over their sins.  Many churches had "Mourners' Benches" in them, where Christ followers would fall on their knees and confess their sins to God.  But we don't do such things!  We don't reflect much on our sins.  "Sinners" are other people! The result is we never