July 25, Blessed are you
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit.”
Matthew 5:3
Blessed by God with His fulfillment and joy is the person who counts him or herself poor in spirit. The “poor in spirit” recognize one’s own spiritual poverty apart from God, and understands that without Him one can only be helpless, hopeless, and lost.
The poor in spirit represents one who is humble in spirit and not self-satisfied or proud in heart. This represents a humility that recognizes one’s own debasement compared to the glory and honor of God.
To be poor in spirit represents one who is always lowly in his or her own eyes. This type of individual is not aggressive nor demanding, does not seek anything of his or her own, and gives up self-importance and personal advantage for the sake of another.
Poor in Spirit resonates a godly sorrow that leads one away from sin and joyfully to a life of dependence upon God’s provision of salvation through Jesus. To be poor in spirit is to constantly acknowledge our confidence in the salvation Jesus has given, and to ardently avoid any confidence in our own goodness.
To be poor in spirit indicates that in our spirit we are emptied of those personal achievements or accolades that might seem impressive to others. We become empty before God in complete dependence upon Him to fill us.
To be poor in spirit concludes, “all of God and none of me.” Such a one seeks God on the solid fact that He is indeed our only satisfaction of the soul, and of life.
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The Kingdom of Heaven represents the rule and reign of Jesus in the lives of those who follow Him, and ultimately His eternal reign as King of Kings. The poor in spirit receive the Kingdom of Heaven. This represents the fullness of Christ – the kingdom in substance. And, on that day Jesus says, “came and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34), our arrival in Heaven will fulfill the reality and joy of the already possessed spiritual inheritance of the Kingdom. His kingdom stands unshakable, and ultimately demonstrated in His eternal reign.
Blessed are you who have come to the end of yourself and have surrendered all of your life to the loving call of salvation from God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessed are you who live daily in complete dependence upon Gods salvation in Christ. Blessed are you who seek after God in all things.
Your blessedness? Yours is the kingdom of heaven – your eternal inheritance with all the saints. You are living now and forever under the loving rule and reign of Jesus Christ.
What immense joy should overtake your soul when you finally and fully realize that your entire life is secure in Christ!
So, today, live blessed, for “blessed are you who are poor in spirit.”
Blessings.
