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God’s Blessings to all.
I pray all of you are able to stay cool and safe this summer. It seems time is passing by so quickly. Now more than ever, or so it seems, we need to remain connected together as Children of God and Followers of the Faith in Jesus Christ. I chose the verse Matthew 5:3 for the month. “Bless are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It’s a verse to be remembered and considered throughout the year. Jesus constantly reminded His disciples of the Sermon on the Mount and its many lessons. So, should we be reminded often.
Jesus began His famous sermon on the Mount with an upside-down perspective and eight counter-cultural blessings–commonly known as the beatitudes.
To be physically poor is to lack resources or material possessions. The word poor might trigger a mental image of someone who can’t pay their bills, can’t break free from the cycle of poverty, or can’t afford food, clothing, or shelter.
So what does it mean to be spiritually poor, and why does Jesus think that’s a good thing? Those who realize their own spiritual poverty know that, without God, they are spiritually bankrupt. Those who are poor in spirit understand the desperation of their situation– that they can have nothing, do nothing, and be nothing without Him. Those who are poor in spirit recognize that it’s humility, not pride or self-reliance, that’s a common characteristic in the kingdom of heaven.
Those who are poor in spirit know that they can’t, but they trust that God can.
If we’re honest, most of us would prefer to be rich, comfortable, and sof-dependent. We would rather lack nothing. But even if we happen to be financially stable or wealthy, we cannot save our own souls. We were created to need God.
So, if you’re feeling weak, weary, or worn out, it’s okay. If you feel like you have nothing to offer, Jesus actually says that you are blessed.
When you have a need, He can meet it. When you’re not enough, He already is. And when you feel poor in spirit, you are in the perfect position to be saved and filled by God.
Jesus wants us to know that when we are completely emptied and we feel we have nothing left to give, that’s when He can fill us up to the fullest.
You are blessed,
Pastor Kathi Kraus