Daily Devotional

Wednesday, July 4, 2010

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Was Jesus saying that the economically poor are blessed? No, there is no blessing in poverty itself; the poor can be just as ungodly and lost as the rich. So, what does it mean to be poor in spirit? The poor in spirit are those who recognize that they can never achieve salvation on their own and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

Being poor in spirit requires a denial of self. A childlike faith in Christ requires that you recognize that you are no longer self-assertive, self-confident, self-reliant, self-centered, and most importantly: self-sufficient.

The poor in spirit recognize that their God given characteristics, their race, class, education, physical appearance, wealth, and culture is of no consequence. The poor in spirit are those who are aware of their sins and know in their hearts that they are completely unworthy of the grace that a most holy and loving God pours down upon them. They realize that all their righteousness is, as Isaiah said, like filthy rags before a holy God.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for forgiving a sinner like me, someone who even while offering the best I can muster is still is filthy in your eyes. Help me to better understand my true need for you and your never ceasing grace, and help me to rely on you for everything.