Taking the First Step The beatitudes are like stairs in that they build on one another, moving upward to a renewal of attitude. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” To be poor in spirit is the first stair step. Poor in spirit means we have seen the depth of our need for Christ. We see that we cannot love others, we cannot forgive, we cannot run the race of endurance without His power working within us. We are spiritually bankrupt without Christ. Poor in spirit is saying no to the final counterfeit idol in our lives: self. This is the bottom step upon which everything else is built. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” If we look at this beatitude in light of the first, it has new meaning: “Blessed is the man who is desperately sorry for his sin.” Godly sorrow is something we experience when we see the gravity of our sin. Godly sorrow drives us to God’s throne, where we find the ultimate comfort: His forgiveness. Sometimes we experience sorrow that has nothing to do with sin. This grief can show us the kindness and mercy of God like nothing else can, driving us to our Heavenly Father. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” In living out the first two beatitudes, we recognize our need for Christ. As we see who Christ is, we begin to rightly view ourselves and others. We become meek because we know that we are what we are only by the grace of God. Meekness is not weakness. We all have physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual power—but are you keeping all of this power under control? Those who are meek take what God spreads before them and enjoy it, while others fight for more and fail to enjoy even what they have. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” This is the desire Jesus was talking about: a deep spiritual thirst and a passionate pursuit to be right with God, right with self, and right with others. Being meek then leads us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, which we must receive from another source: Jesus Christ. Living out the beatitudes all comes back to how we view God and how we view ourselves. Do you understand who God is? Do you recognize what He has done for you? If not, you will find that these beatitudes are not bearing fruit in your life. But if you begin to see God for who He really is—your only true source of strength, of holiness, of joy—then you will begin to see Jesus’ promises in the beatitudes fulfilled in your life. Prayer: Lord, help me to first be poor in spirit, knowing my need for You. I want to be completely dependent on You. Show me the areas of my life that are not bearing fruit. Amen. “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 10:37:10 +0000
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