Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Am I a Spiritual Beggar?

Am I a spiritual beggar? "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Mt. 5:3. Reading this morning, God wouldn't let me past this verse. I have read it so many times and heard many sermons on it. I decided to dig into it a little more. As I was studying, I came across one of the definitions for the Greek word translated poor and it really challenged me. Ptochos - beggar or reduced to beggary. After being in third world countries where seeing beggars who are desperate and completely dependent upon the mercy of others to even survive the day or not starve, this got my attention. Blessed or "Happy" is the poor in spirit. This seems contradictory. However, it reminded me of the promises we see in Isaiah 55 and Revelations 22.  "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” Isaiah‬ ‭55:1-2‬  I can only imagine the joy and happiness in the heart of the beggar in South Asia were I to walk up to them and tell them I know a place they can get all the fresh water they want and all the delicious food they want and they DON'T need money! This is the exact thing Jesus offers us! But, do I realize how desperate I am in my spirit? Am I to the point to being a spiritual beggar? Does the living water and bread of life seem so precious to me that I am filled with consistent joy in the Father who provides it to this spiritual beggar? Or am I spending my money and the affections of my spirit on things that are not food and do not satisfy? Lord, show me how needy I am today for You. May I experience even more unspeakable joy than the beggar who is offered free unlimited physical food and drink. May I delight myself in you. 

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