READ: Matthew 5:3
The first Beatitude says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” I love the way The Message writes the first Beatitude, “You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. When there is less of you, there is more of God and His rule.” That is the bottom line. When you are full of yourself, God can’t fill you with His best. There is no room. When you empty yourself, God takes over. Less of you, more of God. When that happens in your life, it will be the best thing that ever happens to you. The word for poor that Jesus uses in this Beatitude is a word that describes a person who is destitute, desperate, and powerless. They have no recourse. They are utterly helpless and dependent on the mercy and goodness of others. So Jesus is saying, “Blessed are those who are desperate for God, who know they are powerless to heal themselves, fix themselves, and save themselves.” It is only when we recognize our helplessness to save, fix, manage, and heal our lives, hurts, and pains that we can be filled with the help, the hope, the strength, and the happiness of God. When you cry out, “I’m worn out, I’m stressed out, I’m broken, I can’t do anymore, I’ve tried, I’m helpless, I’m desperate”, it is there that you will meet God. Remember as Isaiah says, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” When you empty yourself, remember God takes over.
The first Beatitude says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” I love the way The Message writes the first Beatitude, “You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. When there is less of you, there is more of God and His rule.” That is the bottom line. When you are full of yourself, God can’t fill you with His best. There is no room. When you empty yourself, God takes over. Less of you, more of God. When that happens in your life, it will be the best thing that ever happens to you. The word for poor that Jesus uses in this Beatitude is a word that describes a person who is destitute, desperate, and powerless. They have no recourse. They are utterly helpless and dependent on the mercy and goodness of others. So Jesus is saying, “Blessed are those who are desperate for God, who know they are powerless to heal themselves, fix themselves, and save themselves.” It is only when we recognize our helplessness to save, fix, manage, and heal our lives, hurts, and pains that we can be filled with the help, the hope, the strength, and the happiness of God. When you cry out, “I’m worn out, I’m stressed out, I’m broken, I can’t do anymore, I’ve tried, I’m helpless, I’m desperate”, it is there that you will meet God. Remember as Isaiah says, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” When you empty yourself, remember God takes over.
– Dr. Tim Thompson