"The Poor in Spirit"

"Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" - Matthew 5:3

In today's devotion we are only covering one scripture, but it is a very meaningful one to our spiritual life.

We're going to look at "the poor in spirit", and find out what that really means.

God says that "the poor in spirit" are blessed, which means fully satisfied/spiritually prosperous. It is progressive. This progressiveness of blessedness (being fully satisfied /spiritually prosperous) depends upon the fulfillment of the conditions set down here, i.e., you must be "poor in spirit" to be the blessed!

God says that "the poor in spirit"... "theirs is the kingdom of heaven". That's a place I want to be.

Let's look at what this means in the Greek.
Poor - Ptochos (Greek) - Means so poor that he can only obtain his living by begging, he has nothing at all. It means abject poverty, utter helplessness, complete destitution.

In Matthew 5:3 it means those who recognize their spiritual helplessness before God (we're destitute before God). This is a broken and humble person before God, and this is the kind of person God will bless. It initially happens, I believe, when we get saved. We see our utter spiritual helplessness before God and see our desperate need of God (we're poor in spirit).

But I believe it doesn't end there. We still need to continually see our utter spiritual helplessness apart from God. Yes, positionally, as a Christian, you are IN CHRIST and what a great place to be! BUT don't think of YOURSELF as any great person apart from Christ.

I need God every day of my life. Even as Christians we are utterly helpless APART from Christ. "I need you, Lord, every moment of every day!" It saddens me to see Christians so proud of THEMSELVES. I've been there, done that, and it is not where God wants us. Away with Me'isms, away with self, away with pride, away with "I CAN". We need the realization that I CAN'T, but "I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST, WHO STRENGTHENETH ME" - Phil. 4:13.

Are you broken before God? Are you utterly helpless apart from Christ? If not, it's time to admit before God that you do need Him and that APART FROM HIM you are spiritually helpless.

If God has begun this work in your heart, my prayer is that you will continue to stay broken (poor in spirit) before God.