The Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 ESV

To be poor in spirit is to realize our need for God. The poor in spirit grasp the truth that they cannot save themselves and that they are separated from a holy God because of their sinful nature. The poor in spirit recognize that they can never earn heaven because they have nothing to offer God. The poor in spirit are those who are open to receiving God’s gift of grace because they fully understand that they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without acknowledging that Jesus paid their debt – all of it – on the cross.

In God’s kingdom, there is no place for pride and personal gain. There’s no room for self-sufficiency, conceit, or arrogance. He takes no pleasure in those who strive to earn His favor but takes joy in the man who humbly bows before His throne and recognizes his need for grace.

Prayer: Lord, I have nothing to offer you but my gratitude and praise. I thank you for dying on the cross in place. Thank you for taking my sin upon yourself. Thank you for your grace and your salvation for it is only through your work on the cross that I can enter into heaven. It’s all about your grace. Amen.

Thought: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I am found, was lost but now I see.” – John Newton