Blessed are the Poor

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

Do we ask then who are happy? It is answered: The poor in spirit are happy. 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: To be contentedly poor, willing to be empty 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 for their lot, but we must accommodate ourselves to our poverty.

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 befal us in the most prosperous state. (Matthew Henry)

Gracious disposition, contentedly poor, willing to be empty, patiently bear, thankful for what we have, cheerfully bear losses and disappointments--every phrase is a positive. If we are sitting on high cotton and lose everything tomorrow; it's all good. If we have never known worldly wealth and struggle economically; it's still all good.

It's the emptying of ourselves, daily--minute by minute-or second by second--and allowing Christ to fill us and not "things" of the world. We should not walk around wearing a cloak of sadness, but cheerfully, because we don't draw our peace from the temporal but from Christ himself.

**Getting ready to actually run outside this morning instead of using the treadmill. Now remember--when I say run it is more like a shuffle with a pace. It feels good to be back talking with my bloggers!