Scripture Reading: Luke 6:20-26; 16:19-31
The Beatitudes are glimpses of heaven; that is, the conditions they describe are qualities which belong to the heavenly life. Those who live there are lowly, are meek, are pure in heart, hunger after righteousness, and are merciful. We cannot think of any persons in heaven who are proud, resentful, or unmerciful, who thirst after worldly power or fame. To get the Beatitudes of the New Testament into our hearts and lives, even as beginnings, is to enter upon the heavenly life.
“Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” This beatitude is not pronounced on the poor in worldly circumstances; for one may be very poor and yet very proud, or one may be rich in worldly goods and yet be very lowly in spirit. Nor is it on the poor in mind; for mental poverty is not necessarily a state of blessedness, and ignorance certainly is not desirable. It is the poor in spirit, in dispositioin, on whom the beatitude is pronounced; that is, the lowly in heart, the humble, those who are conscious of their unworthiness. Humility is a spirit that bows reverently before God and then holds its most divine gifts as not too good or too fine to be used in Christ’s name in the service of the lowliest of God’s creatures. The bible everywhere speaks it praises of humility. God dwells with the humble. Christ only once opens a window into His own heart, and through this window it is this picture that we see — “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). To be poor in spirit is to be rich toward God, while pride of heart is spiritual poverty. Humility is the key that opens the gate of prayer, while to the loud knocking of pride there comes no answer. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are lowly. They may wear no earthly crown, but a real crown of glory, unseen by men, rests even here upon their head.
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