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
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About Me
- Gene Lawley
- Twin Falls,, Idaho, United States
- A retired CPA, born and raised in Oklahoma, and came to Idaho in 1971 from Colorado.
2 comments:
Rick Ferguson, late pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado paraphrased that first beattitude;
blessed are the "bankrupt-begging-poor" spiritually or blessed are they that "are at the end of their rope".
Why do you think this is such a hard place to start for so many?
As flawed creatures sometimes the only way we come to the realization that we have no power, no authority, no abilities, is at the end of our rope. Perhaps then we can look outside of ourselves providing God the opportunity to save us.
Andy
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