Bible Gleanings, devotions, Sermons

Healer of the Hurting | Bible Gleanings | May 17-18, 2025

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Word spread like wildfire at dawn’s first light. Everyone woke up a little earlier that morning, as people sprinted from village to village to herald the good news: Jesus had arrived on their shore. The Scripture says, “And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well” (Mark 6:54-56).

The sea bank, tranquil only moments before, immediately became a makeshift hospital, as every kind of sick person was brought to Jesus for healing. Certainly, Christ and the disciples were exhausted from a long night on the raging sea, but the Lord’s compassion for the hurting could not be exhausted. The same God-Man who walked on water now walked among the needy, with hands outstretched to heal the broken.

It was a remarkable sight. The blind began to see. The lame walked. The mute spoke. The crippled ran. Jesus turned no one away during this massive healing crusade.

However, more remarkable is that Jesus was silent through it all. Yet through His actions, He preached a sermon more powerful than words could express, namely, Jesus can be sought anywhere, anytime, by anyone in need. Christ is the Healer of the hurting, whose arms of grace are open to anyone willing to fall into them when they are afflicted. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or what burdens you are carrying—Jesus stands ready to receive you. And we would do well to gather up our sorrow and suffering, dragging them into the presence of Christ, so that He can give us what we need. 

To clarify, Jesus is not a divine bellhop we can abuse to fetch anything we want. But like the needy multitude, we should run to Jesus with our needs, believing that He knows what is best for us, and that He will provide precisely what we need in His time. Lay your burdens, heartaches, and fears at His feet. And whether He relieves you of such afflictions or sustains you through them, His message is the same: He is there for you—anytime and at any place—and He will not turn you away.

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Blessed by the Blaze | Bible Gleanings | May 10-11, 2025

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They would not give up, even if it meant burning to death. Refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into a blazing furnace—uncertain of survival, but certain that God vindicates the righteous (Dan. 3:8-30). Centuries later, Stephen boldly proclaimed the gospel even as he faced death by stoning (Acts 7:54-60). The apostles continued to preach Christ despite being continuously flogged and imprisoned (Acts 5:40-42; 12:1-5; 16:22-24). And ever since, an innumerable number of faithful saints have endured fiery persecution in the form of ostracization, deprivation, starvation, and execution; and, unexpectedly, Jesus taught that those who face such persecution are blessed: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).

Persecution is the roaring lion’s way of attempting to frighten the church into silence. However, Jesus taught that persecuted Christians have no reason to fear; rather, they should rejoice because they are living like their Savior. When you look like the Christ which the world hates, the world will hate you, too (John 15:18-19). That is why persecution, no matter how brutal, is actually a blessing. Therefore, Peter encouraged, “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).

And no one understands persecution more than Jesus. He was expelled from towns, accused of being demonic, unjustly tried, and eventually hung on a criminal’s crucifix. Thus, persecution is not a possibility for those who live and look like Jesus—it’s a promise. That is why Paul stated, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12, KJV). And as Jesus Himself taught, “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake” (Luke 21:12).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Pursuing a Pure Heart | Bible Gleanings | May 3-4, 2025

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If you didn’t know any better, it might appear as though he was making a costly mistake. He would light a blazing fire, and let it burn until it was so intense that it made hell seem chilly. Next, when his crucible was hot enough, he would do something really bizarre: he would place silver or gold inside. The metals weren’t being burned for fun or fuel, however, but for refinement. In ancient days, craftsmen would do precisely this in order to purify gold and silver. By heating the metals until the dross ascended to the surface, and then scraping it away, the result was the finest gold and purest silver you had ever seen.

And this is what Jesus meant when He commanded believers to be “pure in heart” (Matt. 5:8a). A pure heart is one that is being continuously refined in the crucible of God’s saving and sanctifying grace, leaving behind a clean heart that is worth more than all of the gold and silver in the world. Jesus wants the hearts of His saints to be free from sin-impurities, contamination, and all other imperfections that do not belong. And purity is most vital in the heart, since the life we live flows from it (Matt. 15:19). If the spring of the heart is impure, then impurity will permeate one’s life through a stream of impure actions (Prov. 4:23).

Most importantly, only the pure in heart “shall see God” (Matt. 5:8b). As David explained, “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm 24:3-5). The writer of Hebrews likewise warned, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). And this is one of the many reasons for Christ’s sacrificial death: “[Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).

To have a pure heart, we must acknowledge the wickedness of our hearts (Prov. 20:9), and plead for God’s cleansing, as David did: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). We must also immerse ourselves in the pure word of God (Psalm 12:6-7). The psalmist’s question and answer was spot-on: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” (Psalm 119:9; cf. Prov. 19:8; John 15:3; 17:17).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions, Sermons

Following Jesus | Bible Gleanings | April 26-27, 2025

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Amid the noise of splashing water and the smell of squirming fish, Peter and Andrew heard a voice which arrested their attention—it was the voice of Jesus, who issued an invitation that would transform their lives forever: “Follow Me” (Mark 1:17a). Christ did not call these fishermen to follow traditions or adhere to a set of teachings. He did not invite them to attend synagogue services. He ordered these men to follow Him—to say what He said, do what He did, think what He thought, and go where He went. And anyone who heeds this same two-word heavenly summons will have both their life and eternity changed forevermore.

And when Christ urges you to follow Him, He expects nothing less than wholehearted obedience and absolute adherence to Him. When you follow Jesus, you don’t get to blaze your own trail, follow your own rules, or live any way you please. Followers of Christ walk the narrow road that leads to life, obey His commands in Scripture, and make it their aim to please Him. Following Jesus as Lord and Master even entails daily self-denial and sacrifice, as Jesus told all His would-be followers that they must say no to themselves and yes to any cross He gave them to carry: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Thus, those who wish to follow Christ at all must follow Him above all.

Those who “follow” Jesus only when it is convenient with a what’s-in-it-for-me attitude aren’t authentic followers. All throughout His life, Jesus was surrounded by large crowds of “fans” who flocked to Him only when He worked miracles and provided free meals of fish and loaves (Matt. 4:25; 8:1; Mark 3:7; 5:24; John 6:1-14). However, when they realized that following Jesus was costly, requiring surrender and submission, they followed Him no longer. As John recounted, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66). Therefore, the questions we must continually ask ourselves are, Which am I? Am I a fan among the crowd, or a follower carrying a cross?

This column is from my newest book, 40 Days with Jesus, which is a forty-day daily devotional on the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus. This book is available in hardcover and paperback on Amazon:

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Need-Meeter | Bible Gleanings | April 11-12, 2025

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He was not possessed by a demon. Leprosy had not afflicted him. He wasn’t confined to a mat like a paralytic. He wasn’t stricken with sensory impairments, such as blindness or deafness. He wasn’t hanging on by a thread—his life was relatively good, aside from his wilted hand: “He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand” (Matt. 12:9-10a).

The man with a withered hand didn’t have the worst condition in the world, but what he suffered from was a big deal to him. And, it was a big deal to Jesus. Christ didn’t say, “Look, man. You have it good compared to other folks who are really struggling. I don’t have time for this. Have you tried physical therapy?” Instead, Jesus cared about the man’s well-being and sufficiently met his needs. As Luke recorded, “And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored” (Luke 6:10).

This was not among Jesus’ top ten greatest miracles. He fed multitudes with fish and loaves, calmed raging storms, and healed every kind of disease (Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 4:35-41; Acts 10:38). He even raised Lazarus from the grave (John 11:38-44)! But the man with the withered hand didn’t need a feast, an exorcism, or a resurrection—he simply needed his hand restored. And Christ was willing and able to give the man exactly what he needed, although it was modest compared to the other great miracles He performed during His earthly ministry.

The truth is, all of our needs are significant to God, no matter how insignificant they may seem in comparison to the greater needs of others. Nothing is too small for His attention or too great for His power. The Lord’s care is so personal and precise that He even cares about what we eat and what we wear (Matt. 6:30-33). And when you come to Him for provision, like the man with the withered hand, “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Water-Walker | Bible Gleanings | April 5-6, 2025

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The golden sun hid behind the hills as dusk descended upon an incredible day of miracles. The disciples were still short of breath after the feeding of the five thousand, exhausted from the massive crowds they helped feed, and from their hearts racing with wonder. Hopes were high. The crowds were ecstatic. Jesus and His disciples were gaining unstoppable momentum.

Then Jesus gave them a perplexing command, undoubtedly producing glances of bewilderment: “Get into the boat and go on without Me. I’ll meet you on the other side” (cf. Mark 6:45-46). Jesus had sent them to preach, heal, and cast demons, but He had never sent them away. Strange as it was, they obeyed because they trusted Him, and then they rowed away after one final look at Him. And unbeknownst to them, a storm was brewing nearby—and they were headed right for it.

The wind whistled. The waves of the deep arose, slamming against their vessel. And it was too late to turn back—they were four miles away from the shore where they last saw their Lord (John 6:19). But to their surprise, they saw Him again—smack-dab in the middle of this tempest—and not rowing after them in a boat, but walking on the raging sea. Terrified, they mistook Him for a ghost, which only amplified their paralyzing fear. And then they heard a voice that calmed their anxious hearts while the storm raged on: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27b).

That the Creator could walk effortlessly on the water which He fashioned is astounding, but not astonishing. What is staggering is that Jesus sent the disciples to the sea knowing that they would be met by a violent storm. And He did so in order for them to experience His unmatched power and the peace of His presence in the midst of turmoil. Without the life-threatening storm, they would have never known the fear-dissolving authority of His word nor the sustaining comfort of His nearness. Jesus was all they needed, but they only learned that lesson when Jesus was all they had.

The Lord still allows storms to come our way and sometimes sends us directly to them for the same reason: to show us that He is enough. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that slams me against the Rock of Ages.” Thankfully, Jesus is never miles away during life’s tempests—He is in the boat with us. Even more, He walks on the waves which threaten to overwhelm us, bringing with Him the grace and mercy we require to endure. Let the Lord’s reassuring promise of His presence bring you calm in the midst of chaos: “It is I; do not be afraid” (John 6:20b).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Giver of Life | Bible Gleanings | March 29-30, 2025

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It is every parent’s worst nightmare. Their beloved daughter passed away after fighting a fatal illness. Worse, their hopes were previously raised by the possibility of her recovery, but it was too late. The prospect of a miracle had vanished. Unless, of course, the Resurrection and the Life Himself is standing nearby (John 11:25).

Jairus’ daughter died just as Christ was on His way to raise her to life (Luke 8:49). But, rather than consoling the family and continuing on His journey, He gathered the grieving family for a miracle they would never forget. Taking her lifeless little hand in His life-giving hand, He whispered, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41b). Immediately, a surge of death-overcoming resurrection power jolted her back to life, and she walked around the very bed she died upon! This little girl, who had quite a story to tell her friends, had encountered the Lord of life, joining the ranks of Lazarus and the widow woman’s son, both of whom were miraculously resurrected after being declared dead (cf. Luke 7:11-17; John 11:1-44).

Experiencing death is the worst of all human experiences—not even children are exempt from it. But the good news is that death is not exempt from the life-giving power of Christ. There is nothing a sinner can do to overcome death, but there is nothing that death can do to overcome the Savior. Death may eventually conquer every man, but it cannot conquer the God-Man and those who believe in Him: “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Rom. 6:5, 8-9).

This is why believers in Christ may exclaim with the apostle Paul, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54b-57).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Power of Peacemaking | Bible Gleanings | March 22-23, 2025

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He ordered his troops to draw their swords and prepare for a massacre. They were four-hundred strong, and the world was about to witness unprecedented bloodshed. However, thanks to the delicate intervention of one wise woman, not a single casualty ensued. As king David prepared to slaughter an irrational Nabal and all his men, an amiable and perceptive woman named Abigail brought gifts to David and negotiated skillfully (1 Sam. 25:2-38). Immediately, David and his men put away their swords—never even meeting Nabal face-to-face—and Abigail saved countless lives through one risky act of peacemaking.

And this is precisely what Jesus instructs His followers to do in the seventh beatitude of the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Simply put, a peacemaker is one who makes peace with others. Peacemakers do their best to live in harmony with those around them: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18). Peacemakers don’t stir the pot or go to every fight they are invited to; instead, they bury the hatchet and build bridges. As Paul urged, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Rom. 14:19).

Peacemaking also entails striving to bring peace between people who are at odds with one another. Instead of starting or stoking fires, peacemakers focus on extinguishing them. Like Moses, they try to resolve conflicts between people who are better off working together (Ex. 2:13-14). They put their best foot forward to mend fences, like Jonathan who sought to reconcile David and Saul (1 Sam. 19:1-7). Peacemakers work to assist others in making amends, such as Paul, who carefully and gently endeavored to establish peace between Euodia and Syntyche, and Philemon and Onesimus (Phil. 4:2-3; Philem. 8-10).

And the most principal prerequisite for peacemaking is being at peace with God. Enemies of the Lord cannot make peace because they are at odds with Him (Rom. 5:10). Only those who are God’s friends through faith in Christ’s saving work may enjoy this peace: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). And this peace provides believers with a significant incentive to make peace with others. For, if God sacrificed much by sending His beloved Son to Golgotha to reconcile sinful man to Himself, how much more should saved sinners sacrifice comparatively little—like an awkward conversation or time spent in prayer—to restore relationships and live at peace with others? This is why peacemaking proves that one is a child of God: “for [peacemakers] shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9b).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Mercy Mandate | Bible Gleanings | March 15-16, 2025

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They tugged on his white and bushy leg to rescue him from the narrow trench. It was entirely his fault—the curious sheep dove in head first and got himself in a jam. But when some sympathetic passers-by noticed that he was helpless and hopeless, they gently lifted him up. Once out, he yapped and bleated before landing in the same ditch after another foolish leap. And, the sheep-heroes came to the rescue yet again.

The Lord commands believers to show mercy to others—recognizing their needs and being moved in our hearts to meet them (Micah 6:8; James 2:13). Mercy lifts others up when they are down—even when their struggles are a result of their own foolish and sheeplike choices. This is what Jesus emphasized in the fifth beatitude of the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the merciful” (Matt. 5:7a). Thus, to be merciful is to be sympathetic and empathetic toward others, not standoffish or indifferent. And mercy challenges our sinful and selfish nature, calling us to gracefully care for needs other than our own.

The opposite of mercy is passing by your half-dead neighbor because you see them as a nuisance or inconvenience, like the merciless priest and Levite (Luke 10:30-32). But, showing mercy means having a broken heart for someone’s brokenness and going the extra mile to meet their needs, just like the Good Samaritan: “But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back’” (Luke 10:33-35).

Furthermore, the Lord Jesus has a multitude of mercy for the multitude of man’s problems, as displayed throughout His earthly ministry. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, was patient with the stubborn, forgave the unforgivable, and consoled the bereaved (Matt. 14:14; John 6:1-14; 8:1-11; Luke 7:11-17). And He commands His followers to do the same. Jesus even taught that the Father is the optimum exemplum of mercy that all believers should follow because He is merciful to the merciless, and to those who jump head first into trenches of their own making: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions, Sermons

Sorrow for Sin | Bible Gleanings | March 8-9, 2025

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David was too sick to his stomach to eat and slept on the ground in mourning clothes when Nathan the prophet confronted him about the gravity of his murder, lying, and adultery (2 Sam. 12:7-17). Upon discovering that they only had forty days to get their act together and turn to the Lord, the Ninevites wiped the smiles from their faces and donned frowns of repentance (Jonah 3:1-10). Ezra tore his clothes, ripped out his hair, and sat in the dirt for an entire day when learning about the Israelites’ insensible iniquity (Ezra 9:3-4). A torrent of tears spilled from the eyes of the sinful woman who interrupted Jesus’ dinner with Simon the Pharisee—enough tears to wash Jesus’ feet, as a matter of fact (Luke 7:37-38). After denying Christ thrice, despite swearing to never do so, a regretful and repentant Peter “went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). 

Every child of God should shed tears of remorse and repentance when realizing the seriousness of their sins against God. And this is the meaning of Jesus’ command to His disciples then and now to be marked as, “those who mourn” (Matt. 5:4a). Certainly, while the Lord cares about all legitimate mourning (Psalm 56:8), Jesus is speaking having a broken heart for the sin which breaks God’s heart. Christ’s command is repeated in James 4:9, where the apostle exhorted, “Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.”

The Corinthian Christians also felt this holy grief. That is why Paul commended it in 2 Corinthians 7, where he wrote, “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death” (2 Cor. 7:9-10). Therefore, believers must weep when they sin against God, taking a page out of Ezra’s confessional prayer: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens” (Ezra 9:6; cf. Lam. 5:15-16).

Fortunately, the Lord consoles the contrite: “they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4b). God comforts those who experience godly sorrow—never before they do, but always afterwards. Those who continually mourn over sin will be continually restored and reassured by the “God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). And this comfort will be fully realized when believers see the Lord face-to-face in eternity, in a place where sin is barred from entering: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

This above column is from my book, 40 Days with Jesus, which is a forty-day daily devotional focusing on the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus. This book is available in paperback and hardcover on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Resources from the Ministry of Pastor Brandon G. Bramlett