Kingdom?

Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3 & 10

I know I am getting out of order here. I was just lying in bed – it is about 10 minutes to 12 on Friday night, and I was mulling.

Now let me be clear. I have studied through and taught through the Beatitudes probably more than any other passage in the Bible. It is my favorite by far. I have notes dating back a decade from preparations for this little piece of scripture.

But tonight – closing in on the middle of the night – I am trying to get to sleep, and the phrase “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven” [Read More...]

Poor In Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”   Matt 5:3

Who are these poor in spirit? They are the ones who realize that before God, they have nothing to offer. Without God they bring nothing to the table. They have no hope for any future if God does not take their part.

In Ps 51 David, (God’s favorite) in his prayer of repentance for his failing with Bathsheba, states, “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” (Ps 51:17 NASB)

In James 4:6 the, James says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The poor in spirit are those who see their need for redemption. Without this sense you will never get right with God. [Read More...]