You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. — Matthew 5:3, The Message
Our culture today believes in fame for fame’s sake.
— Actor Rob Lowe, Radio Interview, June 12, 2014.
Jesus in his introductory sermon gives us a new way of behaving in the kingdom of God. Rather than the kingdom of power, fame, greed, and possession, Jesus teaches an “upside down” kingdom of poverty of spirit, of practical mourning, meekness, desire for true righteousness, mercy, peacemaking, purity of heart and unjust persecution. He speaks to a largely Jewish audience, buffeted by self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, who think they have a lock on the kingdom of God. He re-imagines true and deep happiness, satisfaction that comes from a relationship with a heavenly Father, whose kingdom is surely and clearly coming. These are not eight separate and distinct descriptions for distinct groups of disciples, nor are they eight marks of a spiritually “elite” aristocracy who have it all figured out. Every Christian needs every one of these attributes all of the time. [Read more…] about Devotions: Beatitudes — Poverty of Spirit