Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:3; Luke6:20,24 Ephesians3:7-13.
Key Verse: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven(Matthew5:3).
Meditation: How can a person who is poor in spirit be blessed—that is, joyous? TheGreek word used to translate Jesus’ Aramaic word is a severe word. It is Ptochos, which means absolute and complete poverty. What did Jesus mean?
The answer is found in an observable spiritual law: The closer you grow to Jesus Christ, the greater your sense of need for Him. We know that we are distant when we begin to feel selfsufficient. Self-complacency is a sure sign of spiritual paralysis. To know one’s absolute dependence on Christ for life, love, hope, power, insight, discernment, wisdom, courage, and strategy is to know creative spiritual poverty. This is poverty . This is poverty of spirit.
The keynote of this first beatitude is realization. Joyous are those who realize their need. Moffat translates: “Blessed are those who feel poor in spirit” Goodspeed suggests:”Blessed are those who feel their spiritual need.” Canon Wade: “Happy are those who are feeling spiritual need.” J. B. Philips: “How happy are the humble-minded, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.”
It is difficult for most of us to recognize our poverty of spirit. We have learned to be independent and resourceful. Given time and opportunity, there is no limit to what we think we can do. To depend on God in a world which has taught us self- reliance is difficult. Often we must be taught by painful experience. We discover in sickness, loss of a loved one, circumstantial failure, or interpersonal conflict that we are not as capable as we taught. The joyous are those who recognize their helplessness apart from God and quickly put their trust in Him.
Thought for the day: joyous is the man who has realized his absolute helplessness and has put his whole trust in God.
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