“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:13 (NIV)
Jesus says, “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3 (NLT) He means we must come to the end of ourselves. We have to leave behind any self-sufficiency or self-righteousness and come to the place where we realize our only hope is in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
We must be desperate for God: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” Matthew 5:3 (MSG)
The original disciples did not have religious wealth, in the sense that they did not have ‘churchy’ prestige or position. And, as they followed Jesus, they were inexperienced in this new way. All they could do was follow Jesus for each next step; they couldn’t rely on well-worn traditions that are so easily leaned upon in place of a relationship with Jesus.
They had nowhere else to turn but to Jesus—and it should be that way for us, as well. If you really believed there was nowhere else to turn but Jesus, how would your life change?
