Daily devotion – to be poor in spirit.
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
In Jesus amazing Sermon on the Mount, Jesus focused in on our attitudes. Our hearts and what lay within us.
What sort of attitude should we have toward ourselves? Jesus words here are in complete contrast with how the world taunts us to be.
To be poor in spirit means to be humble, to have a correct estimate of oneself. We live in an arrogant proud world and humility seems to have gone out with the dark ages. People brag continually or tell you about their talents and have no shame in doing so.
Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Jesus did not mean to be “poor spirited” and have no backbone at all!
No, “Poor in spirit” is the opposite of the world’s attitudes of self-praise and self-assertion.
It also is NOT a false humility either that spouts, “I am not worth anything, I can’t do anything.”
It’s honesty with ourselves. We know ourselves, accept ourselves and with the help of the Holy Spirit seek to be ourselves, the person God created us to be, to the glory of God.
Whenever I have come across a believer who is poor in spirit as Jesus commands, they are someone you enjoy being with at all times!
Ask the Lord to help you have this right and godly attitude this week. And people will enjoy being in your presence too!