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Good Monday Mornin'
Jesus said in Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven."
I am constantly looking for ways that I can learn. I especially like
learning about God and how He works. So this past Saturday as we went and
fed homeless and less than rich people in Griffin I was looking for
something that God would teach me. Not that I am some super Christian, but
I believe that God wants to show us part of Him in everything we do, so I
was looking.
There were people who would come and get clothes, and people who
would come and get food. Some would come and get clothes and food and then
just hang out. I saw several people praying with some of these folks, and
I saw lots of smiles and laughter. One thing I kept hearing these people
say over and over was, "Thank you" and "You all are such a
blessing". Little did they know that they were the blessing to us.
So as I looked and watched those people God taught me several things
and they are all tied to this Scripture today. The poor have nothing to
worry about! Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? You would think they have
plenty to worry about. But think about it, they don't. They have no money
to lose, no house to burn down and no pressure from a job! And therefore
they are completely dependant on someone else to give them what they need.
Now I am not suggesting that we should all become homeless, but what I am
suggesting is that we could learn some lessons from them.
Really if we are "Poor in spirit" the implications are
endless. Poor in spirit means that we do not have the spirit to achieve
what needs to happen in our spiritual life. So therefore we are completely
dependant on another Source for our spiritual needs. And that source is
God through Jesus. Just like those people in that parking lot in Griffin
are completely dependant on someone else to meet their needs, we are
completely dependant on God to meet our spiritual needs.
Here are a few thoughts. . .
1. We have to realize that left alone we are hopeless. Just like those
people out there Saturday they would die if it were not for the assistance
that we and others bring. You and I are spiritually bankrupt! There is
nothing inside of us that will get us to Heaven. You see that is precisely
why Jesus came! If we were at all able to make it on our own we would not
need Jesus.
2. We have to realize our dependence. I think this is what Jesus was
getting at in the passage. So many times when we get caught up in sin we
think that God gets mad at us or He is going to punish us. But nothing
could be further from the truth! When we sin sure we
fracture our relationship to God but not from His perspective but from
ours! God does not love you because of what you can or cannot do; He loves
you because of Jesus and His perfection! And when we sin we are reminded
of our dependence on the cross! So does that mean we should just sin away?
Paul says in Romans, "May it never be". Would one of those
homeless people in Griffin walk up and spit in your face when you just
gave him a plate of food? I think not.
3. Finally I want us to realize that apart from God we are dead dead dead!
This really ties back into point one, but then again this is the point of
this whole email. With times like they are right now people are more and
more aware that we are not in control of much, if anything, in this world.
My monthly gasoline bill dropped by half in two weeks, it could go up
double in one day! I am not in control. I went to the grocery store and
spent two hundred dollars and only got a few things in the bottom of the
buggy. Now I can shop smart, but I cannot control the price of groceries.
And with the economy the way it is we are realizing more and more we are
not guaranteed a paycheck every week or month! WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF
LIFE GOD IS!!!
I know some of you are going through hard times, but it is how we view
these hard times that gets us through them. Are they driving you closer to
God, or are the driving you closer to self? If you look at the
circumstances of your life as drawing you closer to God, then they become
much more bearable.
I love all of you and hope this helps you. Have a great week!
Pastor Jason Lyle
The Open Range Church of Henry County
Many are the plans in a man's
heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
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