We are blessed as we admit we are poor:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:3 NIV
Let me recap: 1- we must admit the truth about ourselves, that we are poor in spirit 2- admitting this truth humbles us to be able to surrender to God and receive Salvation 3- once we are saved, we are a new person in Christ, a saint, who must continue to grow into the person God has created us to be, to be more like Jesus, and less like our old self. Then we can 4- experience more and more of the Kingdom of Heaven, here, before we enter into Paradise forevermore, when our time here is done. It seems simple, doesn’t it? Admit we are poor in spirit and we are given, and can experience, the Kingdom of Heaven.
So why does it seem so difficult? Again, it is Pride and one of the things Pride does is cover our eyes to the truth. Pride is deceptive. It knows the desires of our fallen heart, so it promises us all sorts of pleasures, comfort and ease. But they are lies that never fulfill us. They cater to our temporary Flesh, and like our temporary Flesh, if we are granted anything at all, it is only temporary. Think about food, for instance. We can get the most rich and delicious meal, but a hour later it is gone and we are left only wanting more…and more and more. Pride is never satisfying. Never fulfilling. And certainly, never grants us the Kingdom of Heaven!
Join me in memorizing 52 verses this year:
January: 1- Jn 3:16; 2- 2Co 5:17; 3- Jas 2:26; 4- Eph 2:10
February: 5- Jn 10:10; 6- Ro 6:23; 7- Rev 21:4; 8- Php 4:13
March: 9- 1Pe 5:7; 10- Jn 8:32; 11- Dt 30:19; 12- Jn 3:30; 13- 2Chron 20:3
April: 14- 2Chron 20:12; 15- 2Chron 20:15b; 16- 2Chron 20:17
May: 17- Ro 8:28; 18- 1Co 13:13; 19- Php 2:12; 20- Mt 5:4
21- Lk 23:42
22- Jas 4:7
23- Pr 22:6
24- Mt 5:3
<>< Peace, Diane
