Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, April 22, 2016

I have a question today: Are you rich or poor? The answer is a matter of divine perspective.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3).

Here’s an alternate rendering of the text: “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with lifejoy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!” (Matthew 5:3, AMP).

The first step to victory over any spiritual, mental, psychological, emotional, or chemical oppression is to recognize one’s utter impotence and need of help. One of the major reasons so many people are crawling beneath the debilitating load of this kind of oppression is because they refuse to concede that fact and seek help.

The Bible says that we are enviable and spiritually prosperous in God’s favor when we recognize that we are insignificant and that we are not inherently rich, spiritually speaking. Jesus said, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich… every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Revelation 3:18; Isaiah 55:1).

So again, I ask you: Are you rich or poor? Ask the Holy Spirit today, to reveal the answer to you so that you can become rich in the power of God. It is then, and only then, that the Kingdom of God is yours.--L. David Harris (www.davidwritesalot.com)