As we continue through to the end of summer, I am continuing our Summer Format, which opens with a three minute recorded synopsis of my favorite Oswald Chambers devotions, followed by the written devotion itself.
I encourage you to listen to the 3 minute talk and then read the 3 minute devotion.
Over the years these devotions have greatly informed and boosted my relationship with Jesus, as well as at times challenged me, comforted me, and encouraged me.
Published with permission from Utmost.org
Blessed are the poor in spirit… —Matthew 5:3
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount produces a sense of despair in the natural man— exactly what Jesus means for it to do. As long as we have some self-righteous idea that we can carry out our Lord’s teaching, God will allow us to continue until we expose our own ignorance by stumbling over some obstacle in our way. Only then are we willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him. “Blessed are the poor in spirit….” This is the first principle in the kingdom of God. The underlying foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is poverty, not possessions; not making decisions for Jesus, but having such a sense of absolute futility that we finally admit, “Lord, I cannot even begin to do it.” Then Jesus says, “Blessed are you…” (Matthew 5:11). This is the doorway to the kingdom, and yet it takes us so long to believe that we are actually poor! The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work.
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