Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 5:3
There's a lot I like about Jesus' teachings. One of them is that His teachings are the complete opposite of the world system and its values. In this instance, Jesus says that being poor in the spirit has a return we can't measure.
I remember teaching youth Bible study at True Faith Church Of God In Christ one evening. There were about 12-15 young adults in the sanctuary. I read this passage to them, and the reaction wasn't surprising. It was amusing. Nearly all of them were like, "Oh no! I'm not going to be poor!" Some said they would get an education and have a good job. Some of them said they were going to have their own business. I could respect their resolve to be successful. Now that they are adults, many are successful or on their way to success.
After I got everybody refocused on the lesson, I explained to them what Jesus meant by being poor in the spirit.
Jesus was and is saying those poor in the spirit realize they genuinely need God.
They know they aren't doing good based on their own.
The poor in spirit have humbled themselves and confessed they aren't who they can be without the Spirit of the Lord guiding them.
My question is, "Do you need the Lord today and forever, or are you self-sufficient and can go solo for the rest of your life?"
Heavenly Father. I pray we, myself included, will always recognize our genuine and necessary need for your presence in our hearts. You are the vine, and we are the branches. Without you, we can't do anything. Help us, Father, to carry out the plan you have specially designed for us in Jesus' name - Amen.
Pastor Nathaniel Jordan 12/12/23
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