Ezron. A 72 year old village head man living in a village called Mushingashi. Living most of his life without God, he is now a church leader. Always the first one to worship on Sundays and Bible studies on Wednesdays, he’s always the last to sit down. He walks around making sure everyone has a chair, though culturally he should be the one with the best seat. When it comes time for him to pray he bows to his overworked and worn-out knees praying with all of his heart. When presiding over the Lord’s Supper, he is overwhelmed with emotion as he thanks his Savior in tears—a cultural sign of weakness. Every time I encounter this man all I can think about is “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
A village headman, elder in the community, and formally lost man was not born with this character trait. It is not something that he strives for as an achievement that will increase his blessing. No. This is a man who understands who he is in relationship to his King. Because of his self-awareness, he doesn’t mope around feeling helpless, but he lives as an empowered adopted child of the King. So he molds bricks to build a church building, mostly on his own, he visits village to village to encourage the members, and he hosts devotionals around the fire at night for the surrounding community. This man is not weak, but humble. This is a man that lives with the knowledge that he is constantly in the presence of God.
As you approach the Beatitudes, remember that this is not a code of ethics or morals. They are not personality traits that you are just born with. It’s not a law for which you can attain righteousness. It is an emptying of self. This is a description of how a Christian, every Christian, ought to live in an environment of grace. This is what Christ came to die for.
There is no one who is in God’s kingdom that is not poor in spirit.
Here are some verses to reflect on as you empty yourself and allow God to fill you up, becoming poor in spirit: Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 5:1-11.
Blessings as you go through the orientation of the life in the Kingdom of God.
Suggested reading for more study on the Sermon on the Mount: Studies on the Sermon on the Mount. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
A village headman, elder in the community, and formally lost man was not born with this character trait. It is not something that he strives for as an achievement that will increase his blessing. No. This is a man who understands who he is in relationship to his King. Because of his self-awareness, he doesn’t mope around feeling helpless, but he lives as an empowered adopted child of the King. So he molds bricks to build a church building, mostly on his own, he visits village to village to encourage the members, and he hosts devotionals around the fire at night for the surrounding community. This man is not weak, but humble. This is a man that lives with the knowledge that he is constantly in the presence of God.
“For this is what the high and exalted One says—
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
-Isaiah 57:15
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| Ezron (the one standing) teaching at the Family Seminar last month. |
“ …while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
-Titus 2:13-14
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
-Matt. 5:3
There is no one who is in God’s kingdom that is not poor in spirit.
Here are some verses to reflect on as you empty yourself and allow God to fill you up, becoming poor in spirit: Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 5:1-11.
Blessings as you go through the orientation of the life in the Kingdom of God.
Suggested reading for more study on the Sermon on the Mount: Studies on the Sermon on the Mount. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.
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