Gimme 5 Daily Devotionals
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Gimme 5 Daily Devotionals
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Matthew 5:23. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What is good about poverty? At an everyday level, nothing! Poverty very often leads to deprivation, disadvantage and all kinds of social problems. So what is Jesus talking about? Biblically it is the rich who tend to oppose the cause of God, the rich and their love of wealth who become spiritually blind, the rich who are filled with pride and self sufficiency whereas the poor have nowhere to go but to God for mercy and justice. The clue is in the phrase “poor in spirit”. Jesus is not saying that poverty is a good thing but that those who are spiritually poor recognise in faith that he is their only hope and help. Years ago after an evening service I received a call to hospital to see a member of the congregation was dying. At the end of the visit I came back to the car park only to discover that I had no money to pay the ticket. I’m like a member of the royal family I don’t carry cash, at least on a Sunday. What was left but to go to the attendant tell him the circumstances and confess my inability to pay. Humble pie! To my surprise this man who I never at any point saw, just heard, slipped me a ticket to exit. No money was asked for, no demands made. Grace of a form. Those who recognise their spiritual bankruptcy have no-one else to go but to Jesus to confess their poverty and look for mercy. Romans 10:12 “the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,” PRAY Lord I confess that I am poor in spirit, that I can offer nothing to you no gifts, no powers, no wisdom; be merciful to me, a sinner, for Jesus sake. AMEN LISTEN It seems we may be on the move out of lockdown though with a wee while to go yet before normal service is resumed and busy lives take off again. So while there’s still time let’s take 5 minutes each day, with coffee or over lunch to think about God’s word and apply it. I’m going to try to do everything in 5 minutes, the reading the writing and the music, Hence “Gimme 5”, as opposed to gimmick 5 which it might be as well. So try this for size..... Start the clock now! Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Fishing for trout, sometimes well into dusk, I know what it is to stumble on a tree root or step into a hole. Lately, when it gets to that time of night and I’m moving about I’ve taken to wearing a head light like a cyclist, just to avoid the obstacles. Sadly it doesn’t make the fishing better though! Our path through life is sometimes dark and troubling, we can’t see the way clearly and there are pitfalls to avoid or decisions to make. Who better to show us those things than the one who knows all things? And how does he most often do that? Through his word simply that! So if you’re for real and want to know the way to avoid the problems or see the way ahead make it a daily habit to read God’s word and pray for insight from the Holy Spirit.... or light for your path. Just to warn you though, don’t expect always to like what you see or learn. Sometimes the problem is not a matter or sight or understanding but of will and that is something that you’ll have to resolve with God. PRAYER Lord in darkness or in trouble help me to seek your path and understand your will for my life. Conform my will to your perfect will and walk with me. AMEN Listen (Ignore the ads) |