The Kingdom of Heaven

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)

The text is in the present tense…“theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” not “theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.”  What did Jesus mean by “the kingdom of heaven?” In his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote regarding the kingdom of heaven, “It means, in its essence, Christ’s rule or the sphere and realm in which He is reigning…Wherever He was present and exercising authority, the kingdom of heaven was there.” (p. 30) 

Scripture makes it clear that Jesus Christ is eternal.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Rev. 4:8b)

PAST

When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, the kingdom of heaven was near. In Matthew 4:17 it says, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  In Matthew 9:5-6 He demonstrated His authority on earth by saying, “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins – then He said to the paralytic – ‘Rise, take up your bed, and go home.’”  Throughout His ministry, He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and demonstrated His authority through miracles.

PRESENT

The poor in spirit recognize that they are completely incapable of saving themselves. When they accept Christ as their Savior, they grant Him the authority to rule and reign in their lives. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Col. 1:13)  While we continue to live on earth, “..our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 3:20) We who are poor in spirit dwell in the kingdom of Heaven, and the King of that kingdom dwells in us!

FUTURE

One day soon there will be a new heaven and a new earth. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.” (Rev. 21:3)  “Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.”  (Daniel 7:27)

Jesus – Emmanuel – God with us…past, present, and future.

The poor in spirit are blessed because His sacrifice covers our sin -- past, present, and future.

The poor in spirit are blessed because He walked among us, dwells within us, and will reign over us from now through eternity.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)

Steward of Grace

Since the beginning of the year I have been doing a series on the word “blessed.”  I lost a bit of momentum for a while due to travel and a busy schedule, and then a global pandemic hit out of nowhere.  I have struggled with anxiety, fear, lack of motivation, and most notably, an inability to focus.  Writing takes immense effort right now, but I do have something that I would like to share.

In the weeks leading up to the crisis, our church has been studying the book of Ephesians.  In Ephesians 3:1-2 it says, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles – if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you...” (emphasis mine).  That phrase caught my eye and has been rattling around in my head ever since.  I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it…until now.  It is quite strange and a bit unsettling to find ourselves in the midst of a national crisis where a call to unity requires us to stay away from each other.  While we have witnessed selfish behavior in some, we have also seen people come together and ask what they can do to help. 

As believers, we often hear people say that they want to be good stewards of what God has given them.  They want to take care of what God has blessed them with (home, finances, gifts, talents, etc) and use them to bless others and further His kingdom.  During these unprecedented times, let us not forget to be good stewards of the most precious gift of all…His grace.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Eph. 2:8)  Paul says that the stewardship of God’s grace was given to him for others.  Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” 

We have a unique opportunity right now to be salt and light in our communities.  If we truly understand the magnitude of God’s grace toward us, let us extend that same grace to those around us and be a good example and a fragrant aroma.  How do we do that when we are housebound?  Creativity is the key.  We are blessed to live in a highly technological age.  Examples I have seen so far include musicians doing free online concerts, people sharing exercise routines, people sharing ideas and resources to help with home education or keeping little ones occupied, physicians explaining what’s going on in simple terms that we can understand, and people cooking meals in step by step tutorials to help those who might not be as proficient in the kitchen.  For those who are not online as much, I have seen women sewing masks/mask covers by the dozen, cards being written and mailed, sharing of supplies, and people shopping for those most at risk.  Extending grace can be as simple as just having a good attitude and a ready smile and wave when you encounter people on a walk around your neighborhood or saying thank you to those serving you through essential services. 

When you wake up in the morning, ask yourself, “How can I be a good steward of God’s grace today?” and then walk in that.  It is possible to love your neighbor from afar.  There may be shortages in the supply chain right now, but the supply of God’s grace is vast and infinite.  Being a good steward of God’s grace is guaranteed to bless Him, bless your neighbor, and bless you.

The Mirror of His Word

Most mornings I will join my husband for coffee at our local coffee shop.  We enjoy the smell of roasted coffee beans, the tinkling sound of the bell on the door as customers enter, and the homey décor. I love this wall of mirrors.  It occurred to me the other day that the Word is also like a mirror to us.  It reflects both the truth about God, as well as the truth about us.  I thought I’d switch things up for this post and put it in a Q&A format, and let the Scripture speak directly to your heart.

Is anyone good?

“As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one.”  (Romans 3:10-12)

What does the unsaved person think of the message of the cross?

“For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Why do the unsaved view the gospel as foolishness?

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  (2 Corinthians 4:3-4)

What happens when the veil is removed?

“But whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  (2 Corinthians 3:16-18)

The only way a mirror is effective is when the lights are on. 

What (Who) is the source of the Light?

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 4:6)

What should our response be when we behold God in the light of His Word and reflect on the truth?

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”  (John 15:5)

“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at this natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.  But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.”  (James 1:23-25)

When we reflect on His truth and walk in obedience, we are promised three things.  We will:

·       Be transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18)

·       Bear much fruit (John 15:5)

·       Be blessed (James 1:25)

Behold

In addition to writing, I enjoy dabbling in photography.  I love to capture beauty, whether it is the shadow of a fern on a wooded path,

or the architecture of a cathedral. 

Photographs help me to remember a moment in time, like my daughter at her dance recital. 

Photography forces me to slow down and really observe my subject, such as the vibrant color and delicate curve of the petals on a flower.

The word “behold” appears well over one thousand times in the Bible.  As I’ve been studying the word blessed, I’ve come across this word several times, so I decided to stop and consider it for a moment.  In the Greek, "behold" means “to gaze with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable.”  Our culture moves at a frighteningly quick pace.  We are constantly bombarded with information, and our attention is often pulled in multiple directions as we scroll on our phones or drive to our next meeting.  To truly behold something, means that we must slow down and focus.  

Let me use photography to illustrate my point.  

We can see flowers,

or we can behold them 

Photography has taught me that in order to capture detail, I must be close to the subject.  If I am photographing a close-up of a flower, I am completely absorbed in the moment.  I am captivated by the vibrant colors and appreciate the intricate beauty of the stamen and the petals. The scent is pleasant and soothing. I adjust my focus within the frame and try to artfully capture the unique beauty I am observing. 

Scripture promises that when we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.  (James 4:8)  When Jesus visited Mary and Martha, Martha was distracted and rushing around with her preparations, but Mary chose to sit at His feet and listen to His word...to behold her Savior.  The Lord told Martha in Luke 10:42, “but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  King David expressed in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” 

In order to know our Savior and learn from Him, we must slow down and take the time to observe and consider Him through the light of His word.  We must draw near and adjust our focus.  

There is great blessing to be found in beholding our Savior!

Poor in Spirit

To be “poor in spirit” is not a phrase we hear often.  In a culture that encourages and rewards self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and self-promotion, it seems like a bit of a mystery to think of a person who is poor in spirit as one who is blessed.  To be poor in spirit does not mean to be meek, shy or introverted.  It has nothing to do with finances.  It is not the act of covering a proud heart with false humility.  To be poor in spirit means that your spirit is humbled and utterly broken before the Lord.  It means both recognizing and acknowledging your total depravity in the presence of God.  Romans 3:10 says, “as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one.”

The root word for “poor” in the Greek is “ptochos” which means absolute, abject poverty.  The root word of “ptochos” is “ptosso” which means to crouch or cower.  This is not the kind of poverty where you eke by and are scraping along.  This is “begging poor,” the kind of poverty where you have no power or resources to help yourself in any capacity.  You are completely reliant on the grace and mercy of someone else for your very life.  While these definitions describe financial poverty, Jesus teaches that to be truly blessed, our spirits must be broken and humble before Him. 

As we begin to understand what He is requiring of us, we may wonder, “But if I’m that broken and humbled all the time, wouldn’t I be sad and depressed?  How can I be blessed in that state of mind?”  The reason why we struggle with this is because of the ongoing battle of the flesh in our minds and hearts.  The world insists that “if you work hard, you will get ahead,” “you don’t get something for nothing,” and “practice makes perfect.”  These messages are so ingrained in us that we forget that “all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment,” (Isaiah 64:6) and that apart from Him we “can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

The truth is, no matter how much we strive, apart from Jesus we will never attain the kind of perfection required to be in the presence of our holy God.  In our fallen nature, we are completely incapable of saving ourselves.  Spiritually speaking, we are “begging poor.”  When we truly wrap our heads around this truth and accept it and cry out, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner,”(Luke 18:13) we begin to understand the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf and the grace offered to us if we simply accept His gift.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)  Our sins, past, present, and future, have been covered by His blood.  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) 

We are so undeserving of His love and grace, and yet He lavishes it upon us!  This is where we begin to experience joy and blessing.  We can draw on His promises.  

“But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” (James 4:6)  

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)  

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)  

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)  

“…for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

I can think of no greater joy than to be reminded that while I was stuck in my sin and before I even acknowledged Him, Jesus died for me. By accepting His sacrifice on my behalf, I am considered righteous before God the Father.  All of my sins have been forgiven.  I can approach Him with confidence (Hebrews 4:16) and rest in His promises.

How truly blessed are the poor in spirit!

Jesus, Our Eternal Joy

A couple of weeks ago I was standing in line at the customer service counter at Kohl’s.  There were several people in front of me, so I decided to look up my order number on my phone to have it ready when my turn at the counter came.  As I was scrolling through my email, I began to notice a commotion occurring at the front of the line.  A woman was trying to return some “World’s Greatest Grandma” hand towels and apparently things were not going well.  Her arms began to flail and the volume of her voice began to increase at an alarming rate.  As the customer service rep calmly explained the return policy and began processing the return, this woman slouched on the counter, buried her forehead in her hand and began to dramatically (and repeatedly) sigh.  One thing was abundantly clear.  She was not happy.

The word “blessed” is repeated nine times in the introductory section of the Sermon on the Mount known as the Beatitudes.  The root word in the Greek is “makarios,” which means happy or blissful.  This is the kind of happiness that is impervious to the randomness of life.  The last line of verse one in “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” describes Jesus as the “joy of every longing heart.”  To be blessed is to experience steadfast joy – Jesus – in your heart.

Jesus said in John 15:10-11, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (emphasis mine)  The kind of joy that Jesus offers has nothing to do with circumstances, and everything to do with abiding in Him.  When we accept Him as our Savior, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit.  His love is complete and we can rest in this joy because we know it is secure and will last forever.  John 10: 27-28 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.”  

When we truly begin to understand this magnificent truth and internalize it into our minds and hearts, it begins to be a little easier to understand how to “consider it all joy” when we encounter various trials.  Trials are part of the sanctification process.  James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  In John 16:23-24, Jesus says, “…Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name.  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.”  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.  John 15:16 says, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you."  

One of the best descriptions I’ve seen about this kind of joy is, “Human happiness is something that is dependent on the chances and changes of life, something which life may give and which life may also destroy.  The Christian blessedness is completely untouchable and an assailable.” (William Barclay)  

To be blessed is to experience life with Jesus.  By His Spirit, we have the kind of joy that dwells within, is full and complete, eternally secure, and freely given to those who call upon His name. What a blessing it is to know that whatever life throws at us, Jesus is our steadfast joy!

Start at the Beginning

One of my favorite songs from the Sound of Music begins with Maria singing, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, when you read you begin with A, B, C, when you sing you begin with Do, Re, Mi.”  Maria wants to share her love of music with the children and encourages them to join her by teaching them the basics.  She gives each note a name and sings them in the order of a scale.  She understands that if they learn the notes and the general framework of music, they can join her in the joy of singing a song together.  That’s one of the beautiful things about music-- once you understand the basic structure, the song possibilities are endless!

In the gospel of Matthew, we find the Sermon on the Mount, and at the beginning of the sermon is a section of verses often referred to as the Beatitudes.  This is the place that I have chosen to begin my study of the word “blessed,” because its repetition caught my attention and sparked my interest in wanting to dig deeper into the word.  While the sermon was given in the presence of a multitude of people, it was specifically directed to Jesus’ disciples.  The Beatitudes embody the fundamental characteristics of a true believer in Christ, and thus a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.  It is important to understand from the outset that we cannot achieve this kind of living without the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit. 

Perhaps it is the musician in me, but as I read through the Beatitudes it reminded me of a musical scale.  The first note of a scale is called the root note.  The melody of a song is built on, and revolves around the root. Just as Maria started with the naming of the notes of a scale, so Christ names the characteristics that describe a true believer in ascending order.  Jesus teaches his disciples that the root or foundation of a life with Him begins with, and revolves around, a spirit of brokenness and humility.  It means acknowledging that you are a sinner, completely unable to save yourself.  Without an emptying of yourself, you cannot be filled with the Spirit who enables you to live as a true representative of His kingdom.  All of the other “notes” of His scale are based in humility, and that is why He begins with it.  It is the foundation on which your life in the kingdom is built.

The characteristics listed in the Beatitudes serve as both the identifiable marks, as well as ongoing goals, of a believer.  He promises blessing, both now and forever, to all who call upon His name and live according to His commands.  He invites us to join Him in the song of heaven, and the first note we must learn to sing is humility.  To sing His song is to be truly blessed indeed.

One Word: Blessed

Each year in the fall, I pray and ask the Lord if He has a word for me to dwell on in the upcoming year.  During my extended break from blogging, I was given the words “Grace” and “Intentional.”  I spent a little over two years with the word “grace,” and it changed my life.  It quieted those inner voices of accusation and guilt that I battled with for years.  I began to practice the discipline of preaching the gospel to myself every day.  Gaining this knowledge made the transition to “intentional” living a natural progression.

My word for 2020 is “blessed.”

It is not the passive form of blessed, as in “I am blessed,” but a call to action.  I see this word as an extension of the word “intentional.”  God promises blessing to His children who obey His commands.  In order to obey, and walk according to His commandments, we must be intentional in the way we think and act.  If we do that, He will bless us.  My plan is to begin the year in the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, and then follow where He leads me from there. 

I am excited for the journey, and look forward to a deeper walk with Him in 2020!