Steve P. Holcombe, the Converted Gambler: His Life and WorkAlexander, Gross
Religion
Steve P. Holcombe, the Converted Gambler: His Life and Work
Alexander, Gross
Holcombe, Steve P., 1835-; Methodists -- United States -- Biography
It is said in one place that the "Word of God is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart." And now I am sure this text of ours
has to-night found you out and shown you to yourself. Where do you
stand? And even if you are persuaded, the suggestion to put it off till
to-morrow or next week will knock it all in the head.
MATTHEW V: 4-5.
"4. Blessed _are_ they that mourn; for they shall be
comforted."
"5. Blessed _are_ the meek; for they shall inherit the earth."
Our talk to-night follows right along in the line of the one preceding.
We shall continue to speak of that wonderful address of Jesus which is
called the Sermon on the Mount and which we began to speak of before. We
were speaking of those who are poor in spirit and tried to describe
such. Now we go on and we find the next words of Jesus, the Divine
Teacher, just suited to those who are poor in spirit, who are
dissatisfied with themselves and their condition, and who are wretched
because they have not the grace and favor of God, and who, as the Psalm
says, have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." (Psalm xxxiv., 18.)
And what are these comforting words of Jesus? "Blessed are they that
_mourn_, for they shall be _comforted_." Of course, those who are poor
in spirit and broken in heart _will mourn_. They are comfortless and
they will mourn for comfort. They are in darkness and they will mourn
for light. They are in sin and under condemnation and they will mourn
till the power of sin is destroyed and they are set free and until the
voice of forgiving love assures them that there is henceforth nothing
against them. Ah, yes, when a man is under conviction for sin he is,
above all men, a mourner. There is hardly any sorrow that strikes deeper
or any suspense that is more intense or awful.
But is there no one here who knows all about this, not because they have
heard me describe it, but because they have felt it and groaned under it
or, may be, _are_ doing so now?
Well, let me assure you, on the authority of Jesus, there is comfort for
you as surely as Jesus will not lie. Does He say "Cursed are they who
mourn?" Or "To be pitied are they that mourn?" No, He says, "_Blessed_
are they."
There, now, you are already comforted a little bit, are you not?
But what is the rest of this sentence of Jesus? "For they _shall_ be
comforted." And, indeed, the fact that you _mourn_ for a better
condition and a better life and for God, is itself a ground for you to
surely expect comfort. For only God's spirit could make you dissatisfied
with yourself, tired of your sins and eager to find God.
And if He began the work He will carry it on to completion, assuredly,
if you do not hinder him by your turning back to sin or going with the
vicious or refusing to have faith in Jesus as Saviour.
And the next verse comes right along to fill out the one we are
considering. "Blessed are the _meek_."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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