Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
We start an 8-part series on the Beatitudes in my district this month. So every week I'll share thoughts on the next Beatitude in the series.
Matthew is significant as a gospel writer as he depicts Christ as King of kings. Throughout Matthew the phraseology reflects the kingdom of heaven and the coming rulership of Jesus. As Matthew 5 opens, the famous Sermon on the Mount places Jesus in a parallel with Moses on Mount Sinai in the mind of the Jewish reader. Jesus prepares to expound upon the Testimonies given at Sinai without changing them. It should be noted that in Matthew 7:28 the people sit in awe of Jesus and the authority He speaks with just as the children of Israel were in awe of Moses after he spoke with God.
Jesus begins His sermon by speaking blessings upon the people. He starts with "the poor in spirit." The contemporary culture of Jesus' day saw poverty as a curse from the gods. They were ostracized, marginalized and often given lower positions (if any) during worship services or mealtimes. Jesus begins to tear down this misconception. In the eyes of Christ wealth and positions of grandeur are greater burdens than poverty and little or no authority. (see Matthew 19:21-24)
Rather than trumpeting our outward, temporal successes, Christians are called to a life of self-denial, introspection, and humility before The Holy God. Take Isaiah 66:1-2, for example.
"Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,' says the LORD. 'But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"
God is not interested in how big and beautiful we can build our churches/temples/shrines/monuments in honor of Him. God already made the heavens and the earth and they serve as a much greater throne and footstool than we could ever build or even design/dream. The LORD is looking for people who recognize they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17)
Christ's message stands in perfect contrast to the teaching of the proud Pharisees and pious Scribes of old. His message still stands against the common empty teachings of today. You are most successful in life when you are humbled by your sinfulness and lying face down before Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to show God's compassion to the poor and suffering (both physically and spiritually). He removed the wall of to the Most Holy place of the heavenly sanctuary allowing all to approach the throne of grace. He showed us the accessibility of God. He took, and still takes, the lowest of the low and raises them to the lofty heights of the Most High.
He opened the gates of heaven for you. What will you do about it?
"And he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
"So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'"
(Acts 16:30-31)
Showing posts with label study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label study. Show all posts
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Battle for the Hearts and Minds
We hear quite a lot about political candidates hoping to win over the hearts and minds of voters this year with the upcoming presidential election. The president and his challengers work to position themselves squarely in the middle of our consciousnesses and are pushing their brand of America hoping to define themselves in an overwhelming way to the American people. They flood television and radio with advertising. They appear on national and local programs to beat their campaign drum. They shake hands, kiss babies, write op-eds, hold town halls, call out opponents, make promises and pledges which most will forget after November. All hope to win your vote, your circle of influence, your undying support.
Our political process is eerily similar to the supernatural campaign for our hearts and minds. God and his challenger, Satan, flood the spiritual airwaves with calls to join their campaigns.
God calmly and carefully lays out His promises which are never forgotten and do not change. God patiently knocks on every hearts door and personally asks for your support. He refuses to give up. He sends acquaintances, friends, family, pastors, and other influencers endowed with His Holy Spirit to speak on His behalf. Far and few between are those who willing take up the battle on the straight and narrow road.
Satan takes a seemingly more aggressive approach. The sights and sounds of the world are granted him. The heavens may declare the glory of God, but my television speaks of the work of the deceiver. The news heralds to destruction of men and women by others or themselves. Perversion is glorified. Vice is worn as a badge of honor. Skepticism and tolerance are delicately balanced as the grandest qualities leading to the dilution, devaluation or denouncement of absolute truth. Far and wide the call to a life of ease and entertainment is eagerly accepted.
Some may read this and say, "There goes Pastor Aaron, jumping back on the conservative, legalistic Christian bandwagon. Guess I'll have to watch my P's and Q's around him again." That's not necessarily the case. Each day I have the same decision you do. Each day I must make the decision to endorse Christ with my life or the challenger. The time for wavering is past. Today we must choose and the choice is more than who will lead our government for the next 4 years. The choice is who will lead us to our eternal destination.
Who gets your vote?
Our political process is eerily similar to the supernatural campaign for our hearts and minds. God and his challenger, Satan, flood the spiritual airwaves with calls to join their campaigns.
God calmly and carefully lays out His promises which are never forgotten and do not change. God patiently knocks on every hearts door and personally asks for your support. He refuses to give up. He sends acquaintances, friends, family, pastors, and other influencers endowed with His Holy Spirit to speak on His behalf. Far and few between are those who willing take up the battle on the straight and narrow road.
Satan takes a seemingly more aggressive approach. The sights and sounds of the world are granted him. The heavens may declare the glory of God, but my television speaks of the work of the deceiver. The news heralds to destruction of men and women by others or themselves. Perversion is glorified. Vice is worn as a badge of honor. Skepticism and tolerance are delicately balanced as the grandest qualities leading to the dilution, devaluation or denouncement of absolute truth. Far and wide the call to a life of ease and entertainment is eagerly accepted.
Some may read this and say, "There goes Pastor Aaron, jumping back on the conservative, legalistic Christian bandwagon. Guess I'll have to watch my P's and Q's around him again." That's not necessarily the case. Each day I have the same decision you do. Each day I must make the decision to endorse Christ with my life or the challenger. The time for wavering is past. Today we must choose and the choice is more than who will lead our government for the next 4 years. The choice is who will lead us to our eternal destination.
Who gets your vote?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Devotion
Devotion: profound dedication; consecration; earnest attachment to a cause, person, etc.
Synonyms: zeal, ardor, love
(www.dictionary.com)
The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Department sent me a devotional book for the new year. It's The Chosen written by Pastor Dwight Nelson. My normal thoughts regarding "devotional" books is not one of excitement or anticipation. In fact, though I often struggle with direction in my personal study time, devotional books rarely provide an effective personal worship experience or even worthwhile springboard into further study. I have only found one daily devotional I have truly liked.
Still, I knew I needed a jumpstart in 2012 to my personal worship time. The first three days of The Chosen have been fantastic reminders of who we are in the eyes of God. More importantly for me, who I am in the eyes of God. Regardless of my life experiences (mistakes, choices, victories, social status, etc, etc) I am a child of God who He chose. I am alive because God wanted, and still wants, me to be alive.
God wants my devotion. He wants my profound dedication and consecration to Him. He has demonstrated the dedication and consecration to me He hopes for me to return. And, He is willing and able to help me achieve the desired result. Call it zeal, ardor, love. Call it what you will. But God is earnestly attaching Himself to us. Maybe it's time we returned the favor.
Synonyms: zeal, ardor, love
(www.dictionary.com)
The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Ministerial Department sent me a devotional book for the new year. It's The Chosen written by Pastor Dwight Nelson. My normal thoughts regarding "devotional" books is not one of excitement or anticipation. In fact, though I often struggle with direction in my personal study time, devotional books rarely provide an effective personal worship experience or even worthwhile springboard into further study. I have only found one daily devotional I have truly liked.
Still, I knew I needed a jumpstart in 2012 to my personal worship time. The first three days of The Chosen have been fantastic reminders of who we are in the eyes of God. More importantly for me, who I am in the eyes of God. Regardless of my life experiences (mistakes, choices, victories, social status, etc, etc) I am a child of God who He chose. I am alive because God wanted, and still wants, me to be alive.
God wants my devotion. He wants my profound dedication and consecration to Him. He has demonstrated the dedication and consecration to me He hopes for me to return. And, He is willing and able to help me achieve the desired result. Call it zeal, ardor, love. Call it what you will. But God is earnestly attaching Himself to us. Maybe it's time we returned the favor.
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