Everyone wants to be happy! Mankind is in a mad rush driving down the fast lane of life looking for happiness. Some look for it in drugs, money, sex, cars, vacations, or other pursuits. The concept of God becoming the supreme source of true happiness is foreign to most people. They think of Him as a killjoy who is out to increase our misery Unfortunately, they never really met Jesus. But you and I have! So come with me and lets listen in on what Jesus is trying to say to us as His disciples. I want us to take small bites so we don't get too overwhelmed and quit. Are you ready for this little adventure? Of course you are! Come on! I want you to sit right here beside me on the front row. Verse 3 begins: "blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
If we want to be truly happy and maintain this happiness even in the middle of life's disappointments and hard times, Jesus tells us that the beginning point is to be "poor in spirit." What does that mean? Principally, it means we recognize our own spiritual poverty and the corruption of our own sinful nature before an absolutely holy and righteous God. Dr. James Montgomery Boice hits the nail on the head when he warns, "You see, it is never possible to create a true poverty of spirit by looking within or by looking around at other people. The human heart is corrupt. And because of it you will always latch upon someone who is worse in some respect than you. You will find someone who is prouder than you are, and although you may still be quite proud you will congratulate yourself on being humble. You will find someone who has strong fits of temper, and although you too have a temper you will congratulate yourself on being more moderate in your temper than he. So it will go with all the failings that make you less perfect than Jesus Christ and therefore the fit object of his mercy and salvation."
So today's challenge is simple! As I sit looking at Jesus, comparing my life with His, am I willing to honestly confess that I am completely filthy and bankrupt spiritually before His absolute holiness and ask Him to clean my life and fill me with Himself? If so, you've just taken the first step into the secret of the kingdom of heaven. Congratulations!
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