Title
The Poor In Spirit
Scripture
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:3)
Devotional
The poor in spirit are those who choose to depend on God, not on themselves; they are "poor" inwardly. They understand that without faith in Christ they cannot please God. This first of the progression through the Beatitudes reveals the kenosis (emptying of self) of man. It says with the apostle Paul, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells."[7] This emptying of self is not a false piety, humility nor is it weakness; it is an accurate attitude toward who we are. Without this proper attitude we cannot realize how weak and sinful we are without Christ. This first of the Beatitudes reveals the initial step to a truly happy life. John the Baptist said it this way, "[8]He must increase, but I must decrease." It is only the poor in spirit who can truly say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."[9]