JAN 21

Matthew 5:1-12
Memorise Matthew 5:3
“blessed are the poor in spirit…”

This first beatitude is also the first step that anyone must take if he would find God. This is a condition of heart which Jesus is referring to. It is definitely not about struggling financially. It is against a spirit of self- reliance and self-confidence. 

When a person is poor in spirit, he understands his depravity and sees no good in himself. He realises how lacking his spirit is before God, and acknowledges his need for spiritual enriching. This is humility. He sees clearly how the sins he has committed brought sorrow not only to himself but also to those around him. This is how the prodigal son in Luke 15:18 was when he realised that he had sinned against his father and against heaven. He confessed that he was an unworthy son. He recognised how he had been careless about the way he treated his father, and was not even fit to be a servant in his father’s house. He saw how his utter selfishness had destroyed his own life and brought sorrow to his father.

A man who is poor in spirit is sorrowful and has a broken and contrite heart. He is ashamed that he had been proud and vain, foolishly thinking of himself more highly than he ought to think. It is here that all true Christian experience begins. It is the absolute opposite of a self- assertive and self-sufficient disposition. He comes to know himself as he truly is. He is convicted of sin and to him God gives that first repentance which is needed to have faith in Christ. In other words, poverty of spirit is the beginning to see oneself as God sees us.

Dear teen, are you conscious of your poverty of spirit? Do you know that you are poor, wretched and blind to the beauty and holiness of Christ? It is your sin that has nailed Christ to the cross of Calvary and He died in your place. Why have you rejected Him? If you are a believer, daily die to self and you will find yourselves growing more holy each day. This holiness will be marked by a lowliness of heart. When you receive criticism about you and your work, how do you respond? If you are always defensive, it is not a good sign. Be objective and humble. If there are ways to improve, thank your friends for pointing it out. Then sincerely and humbly seek the Lord’s wisdom and strength to improve in those areas.

Thought: Christ can only fill the heart which has first been emptied of self.
Prayer: Help me O God for I am a sinner! Make me more like Christ my LORD and Saviour that I may glorify His holy name.