Daily Devotional
Beggars Before God
December 26, 2016
Matthew 5:1-3 says, “And seeing the multitudes, [Jesus] went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’”
Jesus said that beggars are blessed. Now, who are these blessed beggars? They are not poor because of their lack of financial resources. Nor is he talking about being poor-spirited, that is, going around with a sad expression.
Before a person can enter the kingdom of heaven, he must first admit that in the spiritual realm he is absolutely, totally bankrupt. Not just that he is spiritually poor, but that he is spiritually a beggar before God. When you come to Jesus Christ, you do not strut into His presence. There are no peacocks in heaven. No matter how much you may have in the material, psychological, or social realm, you are totally bankrupt before God. If you don't see that, you will never ever get into the kingdom of heaven. When you come to God you must say, “In my hand no price I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling.” That's where it begins.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
