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72. Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit


Matthew 5:5, Luke 6:20, Psalm 86
Key Verse: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 
Matthew 5:3

Even though the verse in Luke: "blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” may sound as though Jesus is referring to physical poverty, in contrast to Matthew's more spiritual emphasis, this would not be accurate.  Both verses are meant to be applied in a spiritual sense.  Blessed are you when you have a spirit of humility for in that attitude, you will inherit the Kingdom of God. 

A person who is poor in spirit has given up trying to do life on their own.  They recognize that their way is probably not God's way.  They are willing to surrender to God, for His Will to be done. 

Their prayer of surrender will sound like the Psalmist when he says, "Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.  Guard my life, for I am devoted to You.  You are my God; save your servant who trusts in You.”  (Psalm 86:1-2) We see his humble attitude continue throughout the Psalm when he says, "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.”  (Ps.  86:11)

It is the humble person who will listen.  It is the humble person who will obey.  It is the humble person who can decrease and let Christ increase as we saw John the Baptist do earlier.  (John 3:30, Day 53).  God loves to work through humble people, such as Moses, (Numbers 12:3).  When we are humble, and not concerned about who gets the credit, God has proved that He can do mighty things.  Those humble ones who give God the glory for any good thing in their lives are those who will live in the Kingdom of Heaven, for they know that it's really about Him. 


Hymn: "Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart"  

An interesting variation

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