For this reason, I would like to continue that same line of thinking and accountability by uplifting us all through the teachings of Christ know as the Beatitudes. It's hard (at least it is for me) to see just how much we lack in keeping the Commands of the Father... but Jesus is the greatest Encouragement of all time, and these teachings prove it, through and through.
(I will tell you that I am switching back to my preferred Bible version, the HCSB, for this one, folks.)
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
Matthew 5:3
Isn't it interesting that the way the world views things is completely backwards sometimes? We (flesh-born, sinful, human beings, every single one of us) see those who are down-trodden and wonder what happened, right? And that's 100% out of the desire to lift them up and makes things better, right? Wrong, and if you say otherwise, you are fooling yourself. In our flesh, we see what we do not wish to have happen to us. And while we may wonder what happened, it is usually from the place of wondering how to avoid it, rather than of how to uplift the poor person standing before us.
Contrary to this view, though, is Christ's interpretation of those same people, both on that mountain in Galilee and those right beside us today. He says that they are "blessed," and that the kingdom of heaven "is theirs." You know, I remember something about that being written somewhere else... something about being last to be first... something totally contradictory to the American way of thinking... oh right, it was when Jesus said:
"Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all."
Mark 10:42-44
Now, I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but if Jesus says something that clearly, it probably has some merit. I mean, this is, after all, the One who was and is, and is to come (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 22:13), the heir of Jacob (Luke 3:34), the Son of God (Luke 1:32-33, Matthew 14:33, Acts 9:20), the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8b), one with the Father (John 17:21), the only Name that brings salvation (Acts 4:12)... He is the holy and most high Messiah (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8). If He says you are blessed, even though poor in spirit, then you are blessed! And if He says that you have to be last to be first, then you have to be last!
And I'll separate this statement for emphasis, so that no one misses it: to find yourself contrary to ANYTHING that Jesus Christ says is to assume that either you know better (which you do not), or that He failed in explanation (which He cannot). These assumptions are akin to Him being more man than God (which is false), and include the potential for Him to be fallible (which is impossible). Therefore, should you believe that Jesus is incorrect in any way at all, that is blasphemy. Let me say it again: THAT IS BLASPHEMY!
Today, I would ask that you find one person you know who is poor in spirit. And don't be satisfied with people "looking fine and clearly not needing my encouragement of prayer," because the odds are that those people have something going on that does need prayer, and they need encouragement. Remind that person that the kingdom of heaven in theirs, and that it is so because Jesus Christ said so! Then spot someone you don't know, whether at church or out in the world, and either ask them if they need prayer, or just pray for them. God knows what they need, which means we don't have to be nosy. So find one person today, and become an instrument or prayer for them, thereby serving them... and pray harder than you have in recent days that God will blow a breeze of peace over them.
God bless you all!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment