We Are Spiritually Bankrupt Before God

BIBLE MEDITATION

“And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them…”

Matthew 5:1-2

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

Whatever your circumstances, Jesus’ teaching in chapters 5-7 of Matthew tells you how you can go from spiritual rags to spiritual riches. We call it the “Sermon on the Mount.” It begins with the Beatitudes. He’s talking about how to live from the inside out –– how to be saved, satisfied, and sanctified, how to enter the kingdom, enjoy the kingdom, and express the kingdom to the world.

That’s what serious followers of Jesus want. But it won’t happen without inward change. If all we have are those outer trappings the world thinks are so important, we’re spiritually bankrupt. So, what do we do? A good place to start is what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit…” We are spiritually bankrupt before a holy God. Give up any idea of self-reliance. Rely completely on Him.

“Blessed are those who mourn…” Come with broken-hearted repentance.

“Blessed are the meek…” Surrender control of your life. Give it to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…” Jesus Christ is our righteousness. Desire Him above all else.

“Blessed are the merciful…” Let His love flow through you to others.

ACTION POINT

The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. These five “blesseds” are the basics. Each one of these Beatitudes is an action for you, as a believer, to do. The time to begin is now.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers