The Interesting Things a Bible Verse Says

Were we to stop long enough to soak up what is being said, when reading a verse in the Bible, it might just revolutionize our lives.

Much has been written about the Beeattitudes. The Be-Attitudes. In Matthew 5:3 and following are listed those commonly called the Blessed Attitudes, as well. There are other "Blessed are they that......." promises in other places in Scripture, and I have thought of doing a search/study of them sometime.

The first one, Matthew 5:3, is unique in its content, its contradiction, and its placement in relation to those following.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Let's try a paraphrase: "Truly happy are those who realize their spiritual poverty, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."

The Apostle Paul believed that. He says a truth that he must have learned from Jesus, Himself, when he was in Arabia those three years. Recorded in II Corinthians 6:10, he claims to be "always sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, yet possessing all things."

It is foundational that, having no spiritual assests to bring into our new relationship with Christ, the only spirituality we later have is what Jesus Christ gives us. And, with that glaring lack of apiritual assets, we have been given ready access to all the Kingdom of Heaven has to offer? Yes, that is the content of the promise. Only in Christ's name do we have this access.

The contradiction (in the way of the world), is that, here, we truly have the situation of getting "something for nothing"! Is it so? That is what the verse says, backed up by Paul's life testimony, too. Are you willing to admit that you really have nothing and only depend on Jesus for all things?

That is the key that opens the doorway to the Kingdom of Heaven. Are those filthy rags of self-righteousness all that important to me, we need to ask ourselves. It sifts down to the matter of the "pride of life", which was one of the three targets that the serpent pinpointed in Eve's life in the Garden of Eden so long ago.

How was that quote from Jim Elliott, one of the five missionaries killed in the jungle of Equador on January 8, 1956: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Mark 8:36--"For what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" This is the way Jesus put it.

The placement of this Be-Attitude first in line is a hint, at least, that perhaps, all the other following promises hinge on understanding and applying this one truth. A followup posting will have to happen to explore this thought.

On the way to higher ground,

Gene Lawley

About Right Divisions

Right divisions about what, you ask. About the Word of God. The Bible. The Holy Scriptures. II Timothy 2:15 reads this way: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (New King James translation)

My entries in this blog, hopefully, will hold true to the guideline in the verse above. My intent is that it will be so. I think "rightly dividing the word of truth" means finding the thread of truth from all parts of the Bible as it bears upon a particular topic or issue. Finding the balance that addresses all sides of an issue in spiritual life is the goal.

By definition, truth is narrow. In so many words, Jesus said that "broad is the road to destruction and narrow is the road to life". There are quite a few folks these days, it seems, who are quite forward in their denial that Jesus really is "the way, the truth, the life, and no man comes to the Father but through Him". (John 14:6) The pressure to conform to the clamor of the masses is rampant. Political correctness is the buzz phrase. Truth is, after all, relative, isn't it? As the popular song claims, "if it feels so good, how could it be wrong?"

Is the Bible really the Word of God? What are the claims made by the Book, itself? How vital is that to the believer in everyday life? How vital is that to the one who is searching for truth, perhaps even unknowingly doing so? Is the Word able to stand on its own? Is there a source of power in the Scriptures that is just not there in other writings?

Good questions to ponder, and to find workable answers, don't you think? Perhaps we can address these in future blogging and be the better for it.

Gene Lawley
Twin Falls, Idaho
fiddlefax@yahoo.com