Blessed are the Poor (Luke 6:20)

And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20 NASB)

The Message version has an interesting paraphrase of this verse:

"You are blessed when you have lost it all.  God's kingdom is there for the finding."

The Greek word translated here as "poor" is ptōchos and is, perhaps, better translated as destitute and reduced to begging. That doesn't seem like a blessed situation in our affluent society, but, according to Jesus, it is.  How can that be? When we have lost all the "stuff" that distracts us, it is easier to get our eyes on God, from whom all blessings flow. When it becomes obvious to us that we are powerless to solve our problems or meet our own needs, we are more likely to turn to a Higher Power and request help from the Almighty. Any situation that drives us to Jesus is, in fact, a blessing. 

What if we are not financially poverty-stricken? Where is our blessing? The blessing of poverty of spirit is still available when our focus is on eternal rather than temporal things. When we see our position and possessions as gifts from God and not as evidence of our own greatness, we move closer to poverty of spirit. When we hold our "things" with open hands that allow God to do with our finances and possessions as He wills, without limits, we have moved into the blessing zone. 

Poverty of spirit, however, requires that we also see others in a different light. Not everyone who finds themselves in the condition of reduced means is there because of laziness, irresponsibility, or poor choices. Many who are poor have great spiritual wealth. We would do well to see them and their situation through the eyes of Christ and to BE the hands and feet of Jesus in helping to meet their needs. 

Today, pray for the poverty of spirit, despite our circumstances, that drives us and our loved ones to seek the Kingdom of God. Pray, too, for a willingness to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. 

--------

Here's the link to last night's Bahamian blog: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/03/sister-zina-and-blood-song.html

The Five Pronged Plan (Luke 4:18)

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor...  (Luke 4:18 NASB)

The mission statement of Christ is so important that we are likely to spend several days here. Matthew Henry was a late 1600's theologian whose commentary on the entire Bible is still used today. He says about this first action out of the wilderness:"having defended himself against the devil’s assaults, he now begins to act offensively, and to make those attacks upon him, by his preaching and miracles, which he could not resist or repel." Jesus had defended himself successfully but the battle is not won with defense along. Defeating an enemy requires a strong and effective offense as well. 

We see here the offensive plan begin to unfold. What a plan is it! Jesus has come with an unlimited measure of the Holy Spirit (John 3:34) and has a five-pronged plan of attack. The first prong is to preach the gospel to the poor.  It is not likely Jesus meant only the poor in money. He is also poor who has mountains of money but is estranged from our Lord. Poverty of spirit involves not only meekness and humility, but also a repentant heart. 

Jesus came for sinners, of which I am chief. It's what the apostle Paul said, and it is true of me. It's probably true of you, too, isn't it? While we are still reveling in sin, we may be in pitiful shape spiritually, but that is not the same as being repentant. Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor in spirit, but it requires recognition of the need for a Savior to actually accept Him. 

Today, we are acknowledging our own poverty of spirit and praying that God will bring such conviction upon our children and loved ones that the season of pleasure in sin and estrangement from Him would come to an end, replaced by poverty of spirit, and that true repentance leading to the transformation only Christ can bring will come.