Wednesday, July 17, 2013
By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo
Day 2: The Beatitudes "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit"
Spiritually BROKE
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Once when I was 6-years-old, I decided to run away because I was not getting "my way." As I lugged my overstuffed and haphazardly packed bag behind me with two hands, I told my mother, "I'm moving out!" She reminded me that the bag I was carrying was not my own and that if I walked out the door, I could not come back. (I realize today that she was probably bluffing.) However, even at 6, I considered, "I have no clothes, no money, and really nowhere to go." That's when I declared, "I'm staying! Now, can you please unpack your bag for me?" That didn't go over so well either.
Many people read today's beatitude and immediately relate it to financial poverty. Those who are in financial poverty are sadly often in desperate need. While God will provide blessings for those in financial poverty that are seeking Him, this verse relates instead to a desperate need and dependence on GOD.
Those who are "poor in spirit" realize their destitute condition before God, their Father...much like a little runaway girl realizes that she just couldn't survive without her parents.
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus shares a parable of a Pharisee (a religious man) and a tax collector (a man considered a sinner by many). Both of these men went into the temple to pray, but their prayers were very different. The Pharisee prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like THIS tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."
THAT tax collector would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Jesus declared that it was the tax collector that left the temple justified NOT the Pharisee. Jesus explained, "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Being "poor in spirit" is humbling yourself before the Lord realizing that you are NOTHING without God. The gift for those who understand this and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven, the gift of eternal life.
I challenge you today to always trust in Jesus. Realize that without God, we are all spiritually broke.
Dear Lord, I am desperate for more of You in my life. I know that without You, I cannot live in true peace and joy and I have no hope of spending eternity with You.
I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.
