Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

All of us know someone who is "so full of themselves", so prideful that we do anything within our power to avoid having to spend much time in their presence. We know that we will be subjected to a litany of all their past conquests and their recent triumphs and of course, we will be expected to stand and applaud. In fact, for some of us, all we need do to be in the presence of someone like this is to stand in front of the mirror and look deeply into our own reflection.

Jesus began his Sermon on the Mount by calling out such people and telling all those within the sound of his voice that God seeks to bless those who are poor in spirit...not the kind of person I just mentioned. But what does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? Is Jesus telling his disciples to be humble and therefore, BE HAPPY!

 Throughout all of the Scriptures, we see that God honors, even exalts those who come to Him with a humble spirit. Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."  It also revels to us in Psalm 149:4, "He crowns the humble with salvation."  The Bible consistently tells us that the pride of self-sufficiency will only lead to ruin...that Pride comes before a Fall!

Adam and Eve started the ball rolling when they sought to see themselves as God...as the serpent pricked their heart with pride, The Fall of Mankind began and sin entered the world. It is from that place of self, selfishness and our desire for independence from our Maker that has led us to the depraved society in which we now find ourselves. WE WERE MADE FOR DEPENDENCE...NOT INDEPENDENCE FROM OUR CREATOR! God has created within the heart, soul and spirit of man a God-shaped hole that ONLY He can fill...and no amount of ANYTHING ELSE will ever be sufficient to make us complete. Our drive to be self-sufficient is a futile effort and only leads to our destruction, despair and desperation.

But that desperation just may be our way out of this prideful trap of the Deceiver. It's in that type of desperation that we may begin to search for God...we may move from a frantic self-effort to be happy to an utter dependence on God for all of His blessing. If we truly embrace the first Beatitude and are "poor in spirit", we can leave behind that haughty, prideful attitude and see our need for a Savior and for a relationship with our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.

 And God tells us in no uncertain terms that He honors those who diligently seek Him. In Jeremiah 29:13 we read, "And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart!"  It is that heart, one poor in spirit, that God will honor and will bless!

Are you waiting on God for a blessing? Are you longing to be happy and to know His joy everlasting?  Then seek Him and Him only and you will be....Happy in the Joy of the Lord and fully...

Blessed Beyond Measure,

WPQ

Poem for the Day:

The eyes of the Lord travel to and fro

Seeking to find someone;

Upon whom he might bestow

Blessings for a life well done.

So give Him your love and obedience,

And each morning when you arise...

Plan to live this day for Him

To find favor in His eyes.