Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . — Matthew 5:3
The
New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our
standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . .” This literally means,
“Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of
today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his
character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear,
“Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord
never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him—
something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the
genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my
poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or
excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your
poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter
His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute
pauper.
The
true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the
one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian.
If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and
the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me . . . out of his
heart will flow rivers of living water” ( John 7:38 ).
And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.
Who
are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought
they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were
influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of
itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine
loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when
Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is
inspiring.
(Taken from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost
for His Highest” August 21)