Daily Devotional For Thursday, August 15, 2024

Good morning or good afternoon Southside. Can you believe that Thursday or “Thirst Day” is here? “Thirst Day” is an alternative name because you are thirsty for the weekend to get here. We have been looking at the Sermon On the Mount since Monday. I took Monday and Tuesday to set the context of this sermon for you–more specifically the Beatitudes. This helps you understand why Jesus says what He says and how it compares to Luke’s version also. 

Jesus said this in Matthew 5:3,  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (NASB). On Monday we looked at the context of the word “blessed” and on Tuesday we looked at the context for the word “poor.” If you read either devotional or both, you understand what Jesus means by “blessed” and “poor.” Jesus' definition of these terms is the very opposite of the world’s definition and even some Christian’s definition of these words. 

As I told you in the devotionals about the context, each Beatitude builds on the next one. Each Beatitude is not so much a promise from Jesus as it is a possibility that can happen if humility is the main attitude in the believer. Therefore, I defined for you Jesus’ definition for humility and the reason Matthew 5:3 is first, is because the whole emphasis of all the Beatitudes starts with  humility. God hates pride because as we saw yesterday it is an abomination to Him. Why is pride an abomination to God?  Because it is us the creature attempting to tell our Creator we know better than He knows. To benefit from the possibilities of what each Beatitude states, we must be humble.

So, as we look at “poor in spirit” today (humility), the $50 billion question is this: how can we know we are humble without becoming prideful about it? 

1. First, we will wean ourselves from ourselves. We are more “in love” with ourselves than anyone else. The Apostle Paul affirms this in Ephesians 5:29a, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it” (ESV). I know that is an odd thing to say “wean ourselves from ourselves,” but we tend to  think first about ourselves rather than others. David put it this way in Psalms 131:2, “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me” (NASB). When we “wean ourselves from ourselves,” pride is vanquished and humility surfaces. Jesus Christ did this every day and every moment of His life, even from the cross. When He could have lashed out at those who had put Him there, He said this in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (NASB). In Luke 9:23, Jesus says this, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (NASB). In other words, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must wean himself from himself . . .”
2. Second, we are in a quest to make our character more like the character of Christ now. So that one day when we do see Him face to face, we will be more like a mirror reflecting Him than a mirror reflecting ourselves. This is the Apostle Paul’s point in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. We see how the Apostle Paul did this in what he wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:25-28. The Apostle Paul writes this in Phililppians 4:11, “. . . for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
3. Third, we will be content where we are and never, ever complain about anything no matter how bad or intense it becomes.. The Apostle Paul writes this in 1 Timothy 6:5, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment . . .” (ESV). Hebrews 13:5 says,”Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (ESV). In Philippians 4:11, 14, the Apostle Paul writes these words, “ . . . for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content . . . Do all things without grumbling, complaining or arguing” (PAR). The Apostle Paul models this and he writes this in Romans 8:17-18, “And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (ESV). Notice as we serve our Lord, we are to be glorified with Him, not complain because of Him and what He asks us to do.
4. Fourth, we will see and affirm the strengths of others and admit our own weaknesses. Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (ESV). Romans 12:10 says, “Love [Be devoted to] each other like brothers and sisters [with family/brotherly affection]. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves [or Outdo one another in showing honor; or Be eager to show honor to one another]” (EXB). The Bible says this 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “But the Lord said to me, `My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, then my power is made perfect in you.’ So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me. (10) So I am happy when I have weaknesses, insults, hard times, sufferings, and all kinds of troubles. All these things are for Christ. And I am happy, because when I am weak, then I am truly strong” (ICB).
5. Fifth, we will spend actual real time in prayer because we know apart from Christ, we can not do anything.” Just like in the Bible and today, beggars beg for a means to meet their physical needs, we too, are spiritual beggars, begging God for His power to reveal His perfect will and purpose in our lives. Job wrote this in Job 22:21, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you” (NLT).  In addition, we know that without prayer we have no power to keep ourselves humble, prideless, not lusting or coveting the things of this world. To use an Old Testament example, we, like Jacob, will wrestle with God and we will not let go until we know our will is completely submitted to His will and He has blessed us. 
6. Sixth, we will in no way dictate the terms to Christ, but instead, accept His terms for discipleship completely. Look what God said through the prophet Samuel to King Saul when he attempted to dictate the terms to God. We read this in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “But Samuel replied, ‘What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. (23) Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols’” (NLT). 

Take heed to the words of Puritan Thomas Watson”

“A castle that has long been besieged and is ready to be taken will deliver up on any terms to save their lives. He whose heart has been a garrison for the devil, and has held out long in opposition against Christ, when once God has brought him to poverty of spirit and he sees himself damned without Christ let God propound what articles He will, He will readily subscribe to them. Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?’” (Source: quoted in The Banner of Truth, “The Beatitudes,” p. 45-48).

    7.  Seventh, pastor and author John MacArthur writes this:

“When we are poor in spirit we will praise and thank God for His grace. Nothing more characterizes the humble believer than abounding gratitude to his Lord and Savior. He knows that he has no blessings and no happiness but that which the Father gives in love and grace. He knows that God’s grace is “more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus”  (1 Tim. 1:14) – Source: John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, “Matthew,” p. 151).

Today, we look at the second part of what Jesus said – “. . . for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What in the world did Jesus mean by this? The result of being “poor in spirit” is “. . . theirs is the kingdom of God.” Now what does that mean? When we are humble, God delivers His kingdom to us. Jesus said this in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (ESV).

Those who are humble before God are heart-broken over what their sin does to them, to others, and to God. When we come to Jesus Christ humbled due to our broken-hearts, we do not leave that way. Look at Isaiah 57:15, “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts” (NLT).

God deeply desires that we recognize our spiritual poverty before He can make us spiritually rich. God wants us to recognize our lowliness so that He can lift us up. That is the promise of James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (NLT). What Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:3 is the lyrics to an old hymn we used to sing called “Rock of Ages”:

“Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling;  Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die” (Source: The Baptist Hymnal 1991, “Rock of Ages,” Hymn No. 342).

When we choose to give up building our own kingdom which is temporary for Jesus Christ’s kingdom, which is eternal, God will use us in ways we never thought possible. He did this with Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Nathan, Solomon, Nehemiah, the little boy who offered Jesus his fish and bread, and all the Apostles in Scripture. 

Questions To Consider

1. Would Jesus Christ say you are a humble person? Why or why not?
2. You were given seven (7) ways to know that you are humble. Read these again and write out what is necessary for you to fulfill each one of them?
3. We read about the lives in the Bible of the people God used in ways that astound us. Some He used in miraculous ways. Answer the questions below in light of what you have read in the devotionals over the last few days on Matthew 5:3. Ror example:

• • Why do you think besides the obvious, Abraham was willing to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, on an altar to God?
  • Why do you think Noah was willing to build an Ark for rain which he had never seen to protect his family from the flood?
  • Why do you think the young boy David was willing to face Goliath?
  • Why do you think Daniel was willing to be thrown in the lion’s den?
  • Why do you think Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were willing to be thrown into a fiery furnace? 

    4. Which would Jesus Christ say you are doing: building your own kingdom or His? Why?

    5. In Matthew 5:3, translators translate the Greek New Testament word Jesus used [βασιλεία, basileia] as kingdom. It can  also be translated as “rule, sovereignty.” With this use, what does Matthew 5:3 say to you now in terms of its ultimate promise by Jesus?

Scripture To Meditate On: Proverbs 29:23, “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I do not want to be building my own kingdom, but Yours. I acknowledge I have a way to go to get where I need to be to inherit Your kingdom. Thank You for not giving up on me. Please forgive me when I get distracted by the temporary rather than the eternal. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside!--Pastor Kelly