The Poor in Spirit

God has put the way of animals in them, and we call it “instinct.”  They seem to know what they need without anyone telling them, and yet they rely on God to meet some of those needs.  If there is a drought, for instance, we see that the animals cannot dig wells or irrigate for themselves.  They depend on the water that God provides.

How does Man know what he needs? Since Man is made in the image of God, can he supply all his own needs . . . therefore not needing to rely on God at all? This is the question that crossed my mind tonight.

From the surface, it may appear that Man can feed and clothe himself, and procreate to further his species.  Some men need much in their lives while some men need little.  This therefore seems to bring a difficult matter to the mind and heart of Man; what does he actually need, and can he himself provide all that it is?

For example, if a man searches for happiness and fails to find it at work, can he make up for that lack by finding happiness at home? Can Man balance his own life successfully by determining what will have meaning for him if he cannot find meaning in something else? These questions seem to find their answer in the following;

Man cannot balance his life successfully.  Just as the animals need God’s provision, so does Man.  However, Man does not always need God materially.  Man does always need God spiritually, though, for Man has a spirit that needs to be fed and depends on God’s provision for those things we cannot see and cannot know.

God feeds our spirit with wisdom that guides us, for without God’s wisdom we would spend our lives on ourselves and our pursuits would leave us empty.

God teaches our spirit what goodness is so that we might discern our actions and eschew wrong motivations.  This causes us to love the life we live instead of holding ourselves in contempt, for a life lived in good ways satisfies the soul.

God opens our spirit to beauty so that we might know His nature as our Creator.  We feel a sense of security and of God planning for us and with us, and not a fear of being alone in this life.

God causes us to delight in His surprises.  This teaches our minds to be humble for they cannot know everything.  Our spirit learns to trust in the freshness of each new day and that His treasures of discovery far outweigh our control over life.

If we search all our lives we will never find all the ways we need God, and how lovingly He cares for us.  Jesus told us that the poor in spirit, those who are not self-sufficient, inherit the kingdom of God (Mt 5:3). It is those who need God who are made rich in Him.  Amen.

Prayer

Prayer is necessary, not that God should move, but that we should care. What would this world look like if we moved it by our love and compassion?  Our God does this. 

Is it too much of Him to ask that we join Him in moving the world?  Our God can direct the hearts of kings like rivers (Prov 21:1) and does not need our help.  However, He desires a partnership with His people, His Bride.  Let us go talk with God in prayer.  Amen.

Faith for the Big Things

Over the years, and the trials I’ve walked through, it is interesting to find I no longer lean on my faith for what I used to consider the “big” things.  I used to wait for the Lord to pay all our bills . . . and I didn’t want to work so hard at my job.  Today I am believing for the ability to love those who treat me poorly, and grace to make the day count for good.  Yet today, the Lord said that these last 2 items are part of the Kingdom of God.  And I don’t think the first 2 are found in Jesus’ parables about His Father’s Kingdom.

Trials come, and the Lord has great compassion for our pain.  He does not dismiss our heartaches by contrasting them with His glorious and eternal Kingdom.  Rather, our Heavenly Father weaves our earthly life through the lessons that eventually make our lives rich in Him.

Today I did not struggle to love someone who had maligned me in the past, and I found it felt good to pray for the well-being of some who made life harder.  Though I could have done these things out of obedience to God’s Word, He chose to work that obedience into my heart instead of my head.  The trials I would like to have avoided and the lessons I never sought actually were meant to bring me into God’s eternal Kingdom, starting first with bringing that same Kingdom into my heart. Wow, this is good stuff.

God’s gifts to me have not been monetary.  Two days ago a stranger spoke wisdom into my life and prayed for me.  Yesterday a door was opened for me to work less so that I could care for my mother. This morning a friend walked into my office with preaching and prayer.  Another friend at work extended compassion. The doctor I took my mother to was patient, even filling a form out himself.  And on it went.  Though the week was hard with trials set in motion by my mother’s stroke, it has been a very rich week because of God’s gifts of wisdom, prayer, encouragement, and more.  

I like God’s Kingdom.  I see an invisible strength in the grace He has given me to walk through this week with Him. And I have received more riches than what I could pay my debts off with.  So tonight I am going to be content with the knowledge that God has chosen a good life for us, and in that I can have faith.  Amen.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28).