Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
By John Weaver
November 1, 2024
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Matthew 5:3 has been used to persuade a person that they cannot know they are saved and still be poor in spirit. The German the Amish use says, “geistlich aum,” or spiritually poor. Tragically, it is interpreted as spiritually ignorant.
Poor in spirit can only happen to the person who sees himself as not only poor but bankrupt with nothing whatsoever to pay the great debt he owes. It is knowing that all the works he could ever do, or all the rules he could ever keep, will not save him.
We are poor in spirit when:
- We understand, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
- We are under conviction. “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24).
- When we can say like the miserable man, “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:25).
- When we realize that the great debt we owed but had no possibility of paying was already paid!
- When we see that we can do nothing spiritually to earn salvation.
- That we are saved by grace, through faith and that is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).
Then, and only then, are we poor in spirit. We are poor, but He is rich.
The words “poor in spirit” refer to our efforts. In a spiritual sense, we are poor. To say that we are proud if we say we know our sins are forgiven could not be farther from the truth.
Lord, this morning I come to you, not proud, but eternally grateful. Thank you for opening my eyes, to the real state that I was in: poor, wretched, miserable and more. But when I realized that Jesus paid it all, I was and am overwhelmed. All I can say is, thank you, thank you Lord. Amen.
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