Living the Blessed Life: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

As we pursue the blessed life, we find ourselves on the hillside of Capernaum at the feet of Jesus. The blessed life Jesus is about to describe, in Matthew chapter 5, is one that is filled with joy, hope and spiritual abundance that surpasses the human experience and is  more associated with divine experience. He begins the conversation in Matthew 5:3 with the first Beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous-with life joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! (AMP)

The meaning of the greek word used for poor in this verse actually means a beggar on the street. Jesus is not saying we have to be financially broke to be spiritually blessed, but rather we have to recognize that our spiritual condition is much like the physical condition of the beggar on the street. Spiritually we are bankrupt apart from Jesus. Picture the homeless person on the street, depleted, without any means or resources to change his or her situation. The homeless are destitute, desperate, and completely dependent upon someone else to have mercy on them for their sustenance, and frankly their survival. 

The spiritually abundant life begins when we humble ourselves before God, and  we  relinquish our confidence in and reliance upon ourselves. The abundant life that seems to evade us, requires the acknowledgement that we are spiritually bankrupt and totally in need of and dependent upon the Lord's mercy and grace daily.  It is in our  daily desperation and dependence that we see the power and presence of the Lord Jesus manifested in our lives. Our daily struggle is this: being self reliant versus totally dependent upon the Lord. 

I know we like our social media posts to make it seem like we have it all the together, but until we come to Jesus, daily desperate and dependent, we are not going to experience the abundant life that He came to give us: I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10b).

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18 perfectly depicts self confidence and self reliance versus the the desperate and totally dependent. And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying,God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 18:9-14)

I can't help but think if we could ever stop being sooo impressed with ourselves, we might see the power of God truly operating in our lives.

daily trying to acknowledge my dependence and desperation,
Diane

p.s. truth be told, spiritually I am like the homeless person totally depleted, destitute and dependent upon the Lord's mercy and grace to sustain me. There are days when my I am dragging my shopping cart to the throne of grace with 3 wheels instead of 4. 

p.p.s. I sing a "ole skool" prayer meeting song often in the shower to remind daily of my desperation. I need thee O I need thee. Every hour I need thee. O bless me now my Savior I come to Thee. If you ever been to one of those prayer meetings you know we sang this song slow and almost moaning because we understood our need.