What God says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”¦”

What the world view is: Pride and Personal Independence

God”™s example of those “˜poor in spirit”™: John the Baptist who said of Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

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

What God says is in sharp contrast with what those without Christ say: “˜I can do this myself, I don”™t need God!”™ “˜I am better than others.”™

Arrogance, pride and assertive personal independence mark such thinking, words and actions.

God”™s blessing is for people to know and experience the security which only He can give. Those who know Christ in a personal relationship can have joy because they are saved and are children of God.

Do you live as if you know the security of God through a relationship with His Son? Do you consciously choose joy because Christ is your Savior?

How does God say you and I are to learn to be “˜poor in spirit”™?

(NASB) James 4:7-10 “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

For God to be increasingly more important in my decisions and choices I am to do what He says in His word.

Verse 7 Submit to God Resist the devil

Verse 8 Draw near to God Confess my sins

Verse 9 Recognize my sinful condition before God

Verse 10 Consciously choose to acknowledge God”™s greatness

On a scale of 1 ““ 10 (with 10 being the goal), how do you grade yourself in being “˜poor in spirit”™ before the living God?

What do you need to consciously choose for God to increase in your life?