In this part of The Beatitudes series, Drikus explored the deep connection between showing mercy and receiving it. Mercy isn't just about pity or a moment of kindness—it's a lifestyle of compassion, forgiveness, and grace. It’s recognizing our own need for mercy and allowing that recognition to shape how we treat others.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" – Matthew 5:7

Empathy is what transforms mercy from apassive feeling into an active response. When we truly see through someone else’s eyes and feel what they feel, we’re no longer just spectators—we become participants in their story. That kind of understanding moves us to act, to help, to forgive. It turns us into people who don't just notice pain, but step into it—bringing compassion, influence, and real change.To find out more about GodFirst East Rand - Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this part of The Beatitudes series, Mesuli unpacked what it means to deeply hunger and thirst for righteousness—not just a casual desire, but a deep, soul-level longing for God's way of doing things.The promise is profound: those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. God doesn’t ignore the cries of those who earnestly seek Him.

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If you have been with us the last two weeks, we are in the Beatitudes, which is a Latin word which means blessing. These are 8 blessings of Jesus and they describe 8 behaviours that we are encouraged to take on in order to come under God’s blessings. After looking at Blessed are the poor and spirit and blessed are those who mourn, this week we have reached the third beatitude. Andrew spoke more about "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

The problem we have is that meekness is not a word we use in modern English. And if it is, it’s not something people often aspire to. You don’t hear people say, ‘I wish I were a bit meeker’. Or what a meek husband you have! How wonderful!

Other translations such as the NLT, CEV, CSB, GNB translate it as ‘humble’. And some as ‘lowly’ or ‘gentle’. The problem we have is that there isn’t a great word in English to carry the meaning of the word used in the original language, Greek. It means something more like ‘incredible strength under great control’.

To find out more about GodFirst East Rand - Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠