Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:3
What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Its an important question because the Kingdom is theirs. The word conveys the meaning of being crouched down low. Similar perspectives are found in other places in scripture. A few examples:
This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Psalm 138:6
God values the lowly in spirit, those with a broken heart. Its the opposite of those who are prideful, arrogant, haughty. The Lord knows the haughty even though they, as Psalm 138:6 says, are far away. Where are you? Are you far away from the Lord? The poor in spirit cry out to God. They come to the end of themselves and see their need for God.
Examine yourself. Take a good look at your life. Do you look down on people? Does your arrogance put yourself above others? Do you disregard the Lord thinking somehow you are above Him? Its interesting how people come to their opinions that God’s ways are unjust, that our opinions prevail over the Word of God. It began in Genesis 3 and its still our way, isn’t it? Such notions flow from pride, arrogance, self deceit. This is not the way to the Kingdom of God.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit, the lowly, the broken hearted. Is this you? Then cry out to God. He hears you. I did that a long time ago. When that happened, I did not understand what I had just set in motion in my life. But it led to my salvation. It led to Messiah – Jesus. I recall sitting in church soon after I had received the Lord as my savior. I turned to the Psalms and stopped on Psalm 34 verse 6 and stopped. This was the Lord speaking directly to me saying He had heard me and delivered me. At that moment it all became very real to me what had been happening in my life the past year prior. God helped me see everything that He had done for me that led to the moment of salvation. And it all began with the simplest of prayers: God help me! When you make that prayer from a crushed heart, a lowly spirit, God hears you and He WILL answer.
Don’t know where to start with God? How about a simple prayer from a place within you that is crushed. Broken. Empty. “God, I don’t know who you are. But if you are real, I need your help”. Start there. Cry out to God from a poor spirit. And then get ready because He hears you. He is coming for you. He will deliver you.
Interested in God’s Kingdom and all that it has? Then its good to be poor in spirit. Listen to the Savior.
