Blessed are they...

I love Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost for His Highest." I'm sure I've shared before, but it has become a daily part of my walk with Christ since I was a freshman in college. I remember hearing Dr. Falwell talk about having read the daily devotional everyday for 40 some years. Now I have read it for nearly 12 years and despite it's familiarity, I find new truths regularly.

July 21: "The knowledge of our own poverty is what brings us to the proper place where Jesus Christ accomplishes His work."

The Sermon on the Mount. We've all heard it before, but I'd like to add my own commentary today. Bear with me - parenthesis/italics mine.

Blessed are the poor in spirit

(Broken)

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn

(Broken to the point of weeping)

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

(Humbled past worldly things)
for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
for they will be filled.

(Being filled with only God)

Blessed are the merciful,

(Able to give mercy to others)

for they will see God.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

(Able to live with a 'yes' heart to God)

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers

(striving for peace despite external circumstances)

for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness

(willing to sacrifice for the glory of God)

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

So it reads:

Blessed are the broken,

broken to the point of weeping,

humbled past worldly things

to the point of being filled with only God,

able to give mercy to others,

able to live with a yes heart to God,

striving for peace despite external circumstances,

willing to sacrifice for the glory of God.

I pray you are blessed today. Whatever your circumstance, I pray your own poverty - your own brokenness - will bring you to the place where Christ can finish the work He's begun in you. Remember the promises accompanied by each scenario. The italics are mine - but the promises are HIS!