Day 5 – The Poverty of the Cross

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one…For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John the Baptist (John 3:30)

As we continue on this Lenten journey through the beattitudes we must continue to examine the first one…the blessedness of the poverty of the spirit.  I believe that Jesus gives these in an order of priority.  In other words, the first beattitude must be understood before the second and so on.  Therefore it is important that we gain a solid understanding of what it means to be “poor in spirit”.  What is spiritual poverty?  The Scripture tells us that we are all sinners and that there is nothing good in us.  We are sinners who are “dead” in our tresspasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1ff).  We cannot save ourselves anymore than a dead person can help themselves.  Jesus is telling us that entering the kingdom of God begins with recognizing that we are helpless and cannot acheive the salvation we desire without Him.  This is the spiritual poverty that Jesus was talking about.  It is the realization that we have nothing within us that would make us worthy of so great a redemption.  We have nothing to offer that could purchase our place in heaven.  We must realize that when it comes to the currency of righteousness…we are broke.

Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no man can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Only when we come before God with nothing can we experience the transforming power of the Lord in our lives.  We must empty ourselves before we can be filled.   Only then will the kingdom of God be ours.  Only when we come to Jesus and say, “I have nothing to offer you except myself.  I cannot do anything without you”.  This is the poverty of the spirit.

Jesus said, “If anyone wold come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23,24)

John the Baptist had the right idea when he was asked how he felt about the success of Jesus.  John knew that the process of salvation could only begin if he decreased.

Today, come to the Lord recognizing who you are…a spiritual pauper and submit to Him.  Only then can you receive the riches of His mercy and grace.