2 posts tagged “god”
Matthew 5
All of chapter 5 is amazing and imagining being one of those who heard it as they watched Jesus sharing it --- powerful. I am just focusing on verse three this rainy morning.
Financial downfalls, the loss of homes, jobs and having material need all the way around can cause us to feel poor. We can start seeing ourselves as poverty stricken “less thans” those suffering less lack around us.
The truth is . . . “poor” is a condition of the heart.
Yes, we can still be considered being at poverty levels if what is coming in doesn’t cover what is going out and there are zillions of other reasons for creating that label. Still . . . the Bible shows us a way to be rich in spirit at all times and in all circumstances.
There is great strength in trusting God with whatever He allows with joy and gratitude.
Personally, I struggle. I detest the struggle because I desperately want to FEEL this way all the time. Ever trusting in the faithfulness of a God Who cares. THE one and only God… THE Jehovah, Jirah … mighty Provider.
There are days (like yesterday) when I emotionally collapse under the weight of the world. It is when I start comparing myself and my situation or when I try to take things into my own hands. I much prefer the days when I not only FEEL HIS HOPE… but I know it is there. Contrary to the days when I go on faith that HIS HOPE is still strong and enduring. . . I love the days when I know it within my heart.
Writings like the one below, poured out by Scripture… help me.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Vs. 3
Today, Lord:
· Allow me a gracious disposition of soul where I am emptying ME to be filled by YOU.
· Be with me so if You order me to be poor that I can be content with that.
· Carry me onward so I can accommodate myself to poverty while it last. . . either always or sometimes.
· Direct me to be easy in it instead of fighting so hard against it.
· Guide me to patiently bear the inconveniences of it and to be thankful for what we have and make the best of whatever that is.
The poor in spirit are happy, Mat_5:3. There is a poor-spiritedness that is so far from making men blessed that it is a sin and a snare - cowardice and base fear, and a willing subjection to the lusts of men. But this poverty of spirit is a gracious disposition of soul, by which we are emptied of self, in order to our being filled with Jesus Christ.
To be poor in spirit is, 1. To be contentedly poor, willing to be emptied of worldly wealth, if God orders that to be our lot; to bring our mind to our condition, when it is a low condition. Many are poor in the world, but high in spirit, poor and proud, murmuring and complaining, and blaming their lot, but we must accommodate ourselves to our poverty, must know how to be abased, Phi_4:12.
Acknowledging the wisdom of God in appointing us to poverty, we must be easy in it, patiently bear the inconveniences of it, be thankful for what we have, and make the best of that which is.
It is to sit loose to all worldly wealth, and not set our hearts upon it, but cheerfully to bear losses and disappointments which may befall us in the most prosperous state. It is not, in pride or pretence, to make ourselves poor, by throwing away what God has given us, especially as those in the church of Rome, who vow poverty, and yet engross the wealth of the nations; but if we be rich in the world we must be poor in spirit, that is, we must condescend to the poor and sympathize with them, as being touched with the feeling of their infirmities; we must expect and prepare for poverty; must not inordinately fear or shun it, but must bid it welcome, especially when it comes upon us for keeping a good conscience, Heb_10:34.
Job was poor in spirit, when he blessed God in taking away, as well as giving.
2. It is to be humble and lowly in our own eyes. To be poor in spirit, is to think meanly of ourselves, of what we are, and have, and do; the poor are often taken in the Old Testament for the humble and self-denying, as opposed to those that are at ease, and the proud; it is to be as little children in our opinion of ourselves, weak, foolish, and insignificant, Mat_18:4; Mat_19:14.
It is to acknowledge that God is great, and we are mean; that he is holy and we are sinful; that he is all and we are nothing, less than nothing, worse than nothing; and to humble ourselves before him, and under his mighty hand.
3. It is to come off from all confidence in our own righteousness and strength, that we may depend only upon the merit of Christ for our justification, and the spirit and grace of Christ for our sanctification. That broken and contrite spirit with which the publican cried for mercy to a poor sinner, is that poverty of spirit. We must call ourselves poor, because always in want of God's grace, always begging at God's door, always hanging on in his house.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Matthew 4
Jesus is tempted by the devil on the mountain.
He overcomes the temptations without succumbing to them and set an example (as did His every footstep) for us to follow.
Read on for Matthew Henry’s Commentary and you will find a great deal of practical help for us today.
[When Christ was baptized, he did not go to Jerusalem, there to publish the glories that had been put upon him, but retired into a wilderness. After communion with God, it is good to be private awhile, lest we lose what we have received, in the crowd and hurry of worldly business. Christ withdrew into the wilderness,
1. To gain advantage to himself. Retirement gives an opportunity for meditation an communion with God; even they who are called to the most active life must yet have their contemplative hours, and must first find time to be alone with God. Those are not fit to speak of the things of God in public to others, who have not first conversed with those things in secret by themselves.
When he began to be hungry, and that in a wilderness, where there was nothing to be had, then the Devil assaulted him. Note, Want and poverty are a great temptation to discontent and unbelief, and the use of unlawful means for our relief, under pretence that necessity has no law; and it is excused with this that hunger will break through stone walls, which yet is no excuse, for the law of God ought to be stronger to us than stone walls. Agur prays against poverty, not because it is an affliction and reproach, but because it is a temptation; lest I be poor, and steal. Those therefore who are reduced to straits, have need to double their guard; it is better to starve to death, than live and thrive by
Outward afflictions, wants and burdens, are the great arguments Satan uses to make the people of God question their sonship; as if afflictions could not consist with, when really they proceed fRom. God's fatherly love. They know how to answer this temptation, who can say with holy Job, Though he slay me, though he starve me, yet I will trust in him, and love him as a Friend, even when he seems to come forth against me as an Enemy. 3. The Devil aims to shake our faith in the word of God, and bring us to question the truth of that. Thus he began with our first parents; Yea, has God said so and so? Surely he has not. So here, Has God said that thou art his beloved Son? Surely he did not say so; or if he did it is not true. We then give place to the Devil, when we question the truth of any word that God has spoken; for his business, as the father of lies, is to oppose the true sayings of God. 4. The Devil carries on his designs very much by possessing people with hard thoughts of God, as if he were unkind, or unfaithful, and had forsaken or forgotten those who had ventured their all with him.
. The Devil is for nothing that is humbling, but ever thing that is assuming; and gains his point, if he can but bring men off from their dependence upon God, and possess them with an opinion of their self-sufficiency.
Note, As in our great abundance we must not think to live without God, so in our greatest straits we must learn to live upon God; and when the fig-tree does not blossom, and the field yields no meat, when all ordinary means of succour and support are cut off, yet then we must rejoice in the Lord; then we must not think to command what we will, though contrary to his command, but must humbly pray for what he thinks fit to give us, and be thankful for the bread of our allowance, though it be a short allowance. Let us learn of Christ here to be at God's finding, rather than at our own; and not to take any irregular courses for our supply, when our wants are ever so pressing (Psa_37:3). Jehovah-jireh; some way or other the Lord will provide. It is better to live poorly upon the fruits of God's goodness, than live plentifully upon the products of our own sin.]
5 Ways to Live Upon God
1. Quiet time. It is imperative for you and I to set apart from the demands of the day and have time with our Lord. This can be in prayer, reading the Bible and sitting silently to listen for His voice.
2. Be alert and cling to Jesus even more when in times of great need. The lack can become a stronghold and/or a temptation to sin. Pray away poverty! It might be where we are now or come at some point but we can pray for God to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. Philippians 4:19
3. Let nothing shake your knowledge of God’s faithfulness. No matter how things appear or feel. . . know He is good and our best is always, always His goal.
4. Depend on the Lord. We cannot succeed without Him and have no power away from Him.
5. Live upon God. When the money does not come, when the bills cannot be paid, when the pantry isn’t filled, and when all hope of help seems gone. Live upon God. As the commentary shares: Some way or other . . . the Lord will provide.
Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to e content win whatever circumstances I am.
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:11-13
