LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “   Jesus

 

There are many today preaching and teaching the gospel that many of the followers of Jesus wanted to hear.  They wanted to hear “Come follow Me and be prosperous”.  Jesus did not preach that!

 

There are many preachers telling people to send them money and you will receive a “blessing”. There were people of Jesus’ time on earth who followed Him to receive something from Him -not because He offered them salvation.  That is still the same today.  If He does not do what they think He should, they abandon Him.  In this first beatitude, Jesus tells the first and the fundamental characteristic of His kingdom.

 

The word “blessed” refers to the well-being of those who have received Christ as their Savior and Lord, which includes His Word, His care, His love, and seeking to walk with Him daily.  In this relationship, there are requirements to receive the blessings of God’s kingdom.  We must be guided by the ways and values of God as revealed in Scripture and not by the ways and values of the world.  The first requirement is to be “poor in spirit”.  We must realize that we are not spiritually self-sufficient; we need the Holy Spirit’s life, power, and sustaining grace in order to inherit the kingdom of God.

 

This statement is not about being in poverty.  Lloyd-Jones is quite clear that poverty does not guarantee spirituality as the poor man is no closer to the kingdom of God than the rich man.  If being “poor in spirit” is fundamental to the kingdom of God and leads to the other beatitudes, we must understand what it means.  It is the foundation to the house, so to speak. 

 

Too often we compare ourselves to others.  Or, we look at the appearance of another.  Does the person carry themselves with a confidence of success?  Consider the promises of politicians today.  Each of them seems to know how to save us; all have a plan to make us happy because of their tax plan, their health plan, their educational plan, and their plans to transform society.  Being “poor in spirit” is not men comparing themselves to men; it is looking face to face at God.  Lloyd-Jones, “If anyone feels anything in the presence of God but utter poverty of spirit, it means you have never really faced Him.  That is the meaning of this beatitude.”

 

The heart of being “being poor in spirit” is not talking about natural qualities such as personality or appearance or even the impression we might make.  It is not about suppressing our personality or trying to change who we are.  Again, it is not trying to look good for others.  It is a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God; we can do nothing on our own.  As I have studied the Bible, read countless authors who have helped me to have a little understanding of who God is, I have come to know I can do nothing to make myself righteous before Him.  I am in awe of who He is and how I am totally dependent upon Him.  When I consider what is happening right now on this day in October, I feel helpless and all my hope is in what God has said in His Word.  I look to the Creator of all things and that He has chosen to save me, my family, you and your family, I am in complete awe of who He is.

Take some time to consider who God is.  Meditate on Him and keep Him in your thoughts today.  Consider all He has done, that He sent Jesus to save you to eternal life in heaven.  I bet you will have a different perspective of things knowing that He is with you.  I do not believe you can meditate on Him without sensing your absolute poverty.  By doing so, Jesus gives the assurance that the kingdom of heaven belongs to you. 

 

Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “   Jesus

 

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