Poverty

 Matthew 5:3 ESV

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


We might assume that the spiritually rich would inherit the kingdom of heaven. Maybe they could buy themselves a passport into the kingdom of God. Jesus turns the tables on our assumptions.

We need to realise our spiritual poverty. Only then will we come to Jesus for his spiritual riches. If we assume we're sorted spiritually, we'll never come to Christ for salvation.

We wouldn't tend to equate poverty with happiness. Yet Jesus does. If we know ourselves to be spiritual beggars, we can receive the joy that our generous God bestows.

If we think we can earn a place in the new creation, we're deluding ourselves. Like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, we're refugees from this worldly City of Destruction to God's heavenly, Celestial City. Only by grace can we enter.

'God our Father, we praise you for the grace we receive through faith in the Lord Jesus, in whose name we pray, amen'.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Power

 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.Exodus 9:16 ESVhttps://bible.com/bible/59/exo.9.16.ESV  Secular historians point to the lack of extra-biblical evidence of Hebrew slavery in Egypt and ensuing exodus. But here in this verse, God describes how this anonymous Pharoah has been immortalised in the annals of the Hebrews, so that God is proclaimed in all the earth. The mighty men of the world might think they can stand against God and win, but resistance is futile!  The more stubborn Pharoah was, the more the Lord was able to display His power. The more insistent Pharoah was of keeping his slaves, the more unreasonable he appeared. It was a battle of wills, and the will of Yahweh prevailed.  In the end, Pharoah will have been broken by the plagues. In the final plague, his own firstborn son was killed, the next in line to the throne of the world superpower. He might have tried to put a brave...
Read more

Praise

  O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51:15 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.51.15.ESV King David had been guilty of adultery and murder. Understandably, he felt muted. He didn't feel he could praise God publicly without coming across as a massive fraud. Yet David is described as a man after God's own heart. Yes, he fell deeply into sin. Yet this Psalm is a heartfelt prayer to God to restore Him. David knew that if God forgave him, he'd have a great testimony. There's hope for the worst of sinners! So he longed to open up his mouth in praises to God. Thankfully, God positively did answer his prayer. He did go on to praise God and write many more Psalms of worship to Him. Whatever we've done, there's hope for us yet, in the blood of Christ. 'Sovereign Lord, please help us to praise and worship You wholeheartedly, whatever our pasts may be. In Jesus' name we pray, amen'
Read more

Enemies

  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Philippians 3:18 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/php.3.18.ESV Sadly, many people are enemies of the cross of Christ. For many people, Christ crucified is foolishness. They would rather worship food than the Source of all good things. Many people glory in their shame: what they get up to on a weekend for example. Others might idolise otherwise commendable things, like their own deeds. Some people trust in religion rather than in having a personal relationship with God. God doesn't want our deeds, He wants us. In a similar way, a wife doesn't just want flowers and chocolates: she wants faithful love. Children don't just want presents: they want their parents to be there for them. When a man's ways are pleasing to God, he makes even his enemies to be friends with him. That's what Jesus did at the cross, so that His enemies, like you and I, can become...
Read more