Heaven Knocking on Our Door- DAY 16- January 27, 2020

Day Sixteen

Comfort of All Comforts

Scripture:

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

Thought:

What does it mean to be “poor in spirit?” Is it being sad? Is it being physically weary? Is it to be discouraged? Is it a feeling of hopelessness? I think the answer is yes to all descriptions. But here’s the good news. It will not always be this way for God’s child.

One could ask why a loving Father would permit this condition, if He is able to prevent it from invading His child’s life? That is a fair question. However, the answer is not likely found with why it happens but rather what He will do with it. He brings comfort and a glorious inheritance that will eventually find its way to His child. It is for that reason that the poor in spirit are blessed. It is what God does for this person because he or she has no delusions about needing God in their life. They need His help for no one else can give it to them.  It comes down to honestly needing God’s help.

Application:

I often hear people blaming God for the conditions of the world. They think good people are getting mistreated and bad people are rewarded.  Because of this inequity they blame God.  They blame God because they do not know Him, nor do they know the one who is really to blame. The One they blame is the One who brought about a redemption plan that will allow us to escape a world that is full of grief and tragedy. The One they blame is good and self- sacrificing on our behalf so that we can escape the punishment to come. He took the curse and punishment on Himself, for He is both a just God, but as well a gracious God. Our sin has a cost and a penalty. Being a just God, this penalty must be paid.  Being a gracious God, He paid the penalty for us.

I write this as I depart Costa Rica. I was on a mission trip that took me to churches that had little more than a concrete floor with open sides. With one such church I met the man and woman who pastor this small church.  I saw in their eyes sadness, weariness, the descriptions I mentioned above. They were the best example of what I think describes, “Poor in spirit.” I don’t think any of us could minister to these people in a way that dives deeply into their souls. We can refresh them. We can provide some financial relief. We can help them build their church to be more comfortable. But the comfort they need can be found only from their Papa. He must intervene. The promise is He will do so. Jesus said they would find this comfort, for what they do is build His kingdom and they will inherit it.

Can they wait for their reward and not give up? Can they take comfort now with what they will be given later, even though things might not change until then? What they receive later will be with them for eternity. This will make all they sacrificed for, and all they invested in become treasure in heaven for them later.

As far as I’m concerned can I answer yes to those questions if conditions make me poor in spirit? Can I put my hope in that which I lay up now for heaven, even though it extracts a great cost in this life? I must, for it is a much better deal than this life and what this world can give me.

Response:

Father as I consider this question, I ask you to make me a man for all seasons and all circumstances that I will face. I can never know the future, but I know that You hold my future in Your hands. This brings me great comfort that You plan my future and I never escape Your sight or Your love. It comforts me that you are faithful and that Your plans are always good, no matter how difficult they may seem to be at times. As I bow before You I do so with a grateful heart because You are who You are.  I put my hope in You, and rest is this truth about You. You will always be with me wherever I am at any time, and Your grace is sufficient for me with whatever I face. It is in Jesus name I pray and thank You for these things.

Your Child