Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3).
Two men were praying in God's temple. One said, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are." The other would not even look up toward heaven, but said, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:11, 13). When Peter saw the divine power and purity of Jesus Christ, he fell at His feet exclaiming, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8).
The Romans sometimes worshiped the god Janus Bifrons, who had two faces--one looking outward toward the enemy, the other backward toward home. How like the truly penitent heart! It not only repents for the sins of the past, but takes heed to the future. It is like a ship's lights--one at the bow, the other at the stern. It looks not only at the track that has been made but to the path ahead.
"Whom Christ pardons, He first makes penitent, and it is the office of the Holy Spirit to convince of sin" (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 7). Those who in the presence of Christ's purity feel that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17) are the ones who long for "the grace of God that bringeth salvation" (Titus 2:11).
There is forgiveness for the truly penitent, for Christ is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). God's promise is "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isa. 1:18). And again: "A new heart also will I give you" (Eze. 36:26). The truly penitent are blessed. They are the poor in spirit of whom Jesus says, "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Those who have a sense of their real poverty will be made rich. In this beatitude of the poor in spirit we may all share.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble" (Ps. 10:12).
Two men were praying in God's temple. One said, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are." The other would not even look up toward heaven, but said, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:11, 13). When Peter saw the divine power and purity of Jesus Christ, he fell at His feet exclaiming, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8).
The Romans sometimes worshiped the god Janus Bifrons, who had two faces--one looking outward toward the enemy, the other backward toward home. How like the truly penitent heart! It not only repents for the sins of the past, but takes heed to the future. It is like a ship's lights--one at the bow, the other at the stern. It looks not only at the track that has been made but to the path ahead.
"Whom Christ pardons, He first makes penitent, and it is the office of the Holy Spirit to convince of sin" (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 7). Those who in the presence of Christ's purity feel that they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17) are the ones who long for "the grace of God that bringeth salvation" (Titus 2:11).
There is forgiveness for the truly penitent, for Christ is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). God's promise is "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isa. 1:18). And again: "A new heart also will I give you" (Eze. 36:26). The truly penitent are blessed. They are the poor in spirit of whom Jesus says, "Theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Those who have a sense of their real poverty will be made rich. In this beatitude of the poor in spirit we may all share.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble" (Ps. 10:12).
RSS Feed
