Day 23 EKG Devotional
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:3
I have walked with people through the experience of financial bankruptcy, so I understand the humiliation it causes. Spiritual bankruptcy ("poor in spirit") is humbling as well, but that's where the similarities end. There's no guarantee in bankruptcy that the person will ever recover financially. But Jesus promised that when we file for spiritual bankruptcy - when we recognize our complete inability to pay our debts or dig ourselves out of the hole - the "kingdom of heaven" is ours. (Matthew 5:3)
To enjoy the satisfaction Jesus offers, we need to know what being "poor in spirit" is. It is emptying ourselves before God, humbly acknowledging our impoverished spiritual condition.
The more we recognize the enormous depth of our spiritual need, the more we will seek the reign of God in our lives. The less attached we are to this world, the more passionate we are toward the kingdom of God.
Declaring spiritual bankruptcy goes counter to our human nature which is proud and self-reliant. We would rather believe the lie that we are in control and we can work it out. All we need is a better education or a promotion at work, or different friends, or a better church, or a better attitude, or any number of other "props". Many people live under the delusion that happiness is just "out there somewhere" slightly beyond our reach.
The truth is happiness is not "out there" it is in welcoming the total and complete reign of Christ into your heart and mind and living for His kingdom. It seems the desparation of poor people allow them to recognize that easier. They are more open to becoming "like children" in order "to enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). They are the least and yet "the greatest in the kingdom" (Matthew 18:4). They have nothing but God, but when you have nothing but God is when you discover He is all you really need. He satisfies. Are you counted among the "satisfied"?
No comments:
Post a Comment