Blessed in Dependence

July 21, 2007

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Poor in spirit, poor in spirit - what does that mean and how is it that they will be blessed?

Jesus Christ is not referring to passion or enthusiasm as in school spirit, or a spirited conversation. Instead, he’s referring to the sense of ourselves, pride, ego.

This spirit is generally a bad thing. It is what makes us dependent on ourselves. It is also what can make us full of ourselves. It is often only about ourselves.

If I am blessed or rich in my own spirit, I am probably high on myself, feel I am supremely capable, and have less need for Christ.

But if my spirit is empoverished then I lack that sense of myself, it is deficient, and I may in fact be discouraged about myself.

These are great qualities in the believer. We must be dead to ourselves so that we can be alive in Christ. Our old has passed away so that we can be raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6). The old way of being, relying on our self, is gone and been replaced with a total dependence on our Lord and Savior. We recognize the source of all things and are completely reliant on Him, rather than on the feebleness that we have in ourselves.

Those who have been made humble are ready to tackle God’s work. For then we will know that it is not at all about us personally. We are unworthy. There is nothing in us that allows us to be used by God, even though we may feel uniquely talented, or have remarkable skills. It is only by the grace of God that we have been saved. And only by the blood of Christ that we have been made holy. Only by denying ourselves, that we are made inheritors of heaven.

Often, Scripture describes blessings that ensue from certain conditions. This is one of them. Christ is saying that “if you deny yourself, I will give you heaven.” The lure of heaven is no reason to take any position or do any specific act or deed, or have any type of thought. There is no doubt that heaven is worth it. But our Lord and Savior wants us to want the relationship with him that yields this outcome. To be surrendered to him and to be poor in spirit because it is his great desire that we love him so much that we are devotedly dependent on him. That is what makes this a worthy goal.

It is what Jesus Christ modeled in his life. As his disciples we must follow his example so that we are indeed taking every thought captive to him. This is the life that is destined for heaven.

August 21, 2007

Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Poor in spirit. Broken. Humbled. Reduced. Spiritless. All of the properties of someone who is losing in this world. All of the qualities of someone who is gaining heaven.

Spirit is such a powerful force. It comes from within, often stimulated from without.

Within a non-believer it is the sense of power, of rightness, of luck, of good fortune, of promise, of hope, of potential, of ability, of strength, of destiny. Until that time in life when it is crushed by circumstances or by the body’s inability to maintain good health. Then, spirit becomes lifeless… and poor.

Poor. Having little or nothing. Not able to summon up enough for sustenance. Bereft.

Another way to look at this would be “being dead to self.” My strength is gone. My hope in myself is gone. My abilities are useless.

That is when the stark realization sets in. This has always been true. I have never had enough strength for any situation. Any hope in myself is pinned on a wisp of smoke. My abilities pale in comparison to the size of my need. All present and future based on me is worthless.

Within this state of realization is a vessel that can be used. A vessel filled with clay cannot be used. But once it is emptied of itself it is ready to be filled and used for service. When self is gone, we are available to Christ. When self is gone, we finally see that our only hope is Christ. When we have shut out the noise of our own sense of worth or ability, we can see Christ as our Savior and Lord.

I have always had a strong spirit. Call it enthusiasm or passion or joie de vivre or whatever. It is the exuberance that strives to achieve significance. But this always stood in my way even though it gave me opportunity and achievement in the world. Eventually, the soaring spirit would come crashing down to earth during times of reversal. I was unable through my own strength of spirit to change situations. The sickening thud of the spirit hitting terra firma was followed by despair. It was the only hope I had. Until I met Jesus Christ.

Once Jesus Christ had come into my heart I was refilled, but this time with an eternal hope, with God’s equipping and abilities, and with the Holy Spirit’s teaching