Changing our Attitude
(NRSV) Matthew 5:1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Don’t you love the fifth chapter of Matthew? I always say that John is my favorite gospel, but then there is Matthew 5. Where else can we find such an abundance of kingdom understanding? So, over the next few days I thought I would delve into these particular lessons for the comfort found there.
I love, love, love the beatitudes. The way Jesus uses the first blessing as the foundation for all that follows is brilliant. The fact that we must recognize the poverty of our own spirit before we can draw close to God encourages us to put our faith under a microscope, and by doing so we can then, and only then, begin our spiritual journey toward salvation and, ultimately, holiness.
Years ago my brother and I shared an apartment. He was in college and I was in a low paying job. We went grocery shopping and I carefully selected the items needed, knowing how little I had in my checking account. To my surprise and dismay, the total was more than I had.
Just before we started putting things back, I asked the lady at the cash register to recheck the groceries. She was annoyed, but upon doing so she found she had charged $10 more for the milk than the actual price.
Although we were able to buy our groceries, the knowledge that I was so low on funds was like a punch in the stomach. It almost took my breath away. Likewise, when we realize how close to poverty our spiritual account is, we should be brought to the same reaction.
In Isaac Watt’s song “At the Cross” the first stanza reads:
”Alas! and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would he devote that sacred Head For such a worm as I?”
The lyrics penned by Isaac Watts in 1707 reveals a stark change in the way we think of our self worth. The phrase “for such a worm as I” has become so abhorrent that it was replaced with “sinners such as I” and then revised again to read “someone such as I.”
Really? Have we become so proud that we are blind to our sin nature? The idea that God would not only allow His Son to die for sinful mankind, but indeed, that was God’s plan from the foundation of the world, is almost incomprehensible, yet that is exactly what happened.
And what is our reward when confronted with our poverty in spirit? Jesus does not promise that the kingdom of heaven will be our future reward. No, He says the kingdom of heaven is ours now. Praise God!
When we finally comprehend that we are completely bankrupt in our spirit, that knowledge should necessarily turn into mourning, a deep anguish that only God can heal. We will then be in a position to repent of our sins and turn toward Jesus. Then we will receive the supernatural comfort that only comes from God.
So, be blessed, be happy, receive now the kingdom promised by Jesus.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
- Posted in: Blogs
Seeking Holiness 