Brokenness

In Matthew 5:5 Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." Meekness is different from being broken or poor in spirit, though the Greek root word is the same. Brokenness of spirit is negative in that it focuses on man's sinfulness and results in mourning. Meekness is positive in that it focuses on God's holiness and man's response to that holiness. They are two sides of the same idea. We are to be poor in spirit because we are sinners and meek because God is so holy in comparison to us. It's so important to have an honest, deep understanding of our condition and a deep understanding of the gospel. Today, Christianity has become so superficial, so surface, no foundation, no brokenness of heart, no mourning, no really coming to grips with spiritual reality, lack of depth. Today, we see Christianity as shallowness of human hunger that produces superficial convert rather than spiritual hunger for true convert. We ought to live as direct response to spiritual transformation from the inside. We are working on spiritual attitudes of our hearts. Reading Hebrews 4 explains that the most efficient in laying bear the heart and doing necessary surgery is the Word of God which is sharper than any other instrument. If we are going to build into right motives and right attitudes and right convictions, if we are going to do the work of the heart, if we are going to cut out the disease and do the necessary spiritual bypass surgery, we do it with the Word...to teaches us from the heart, as Ephesians 6:6 says, to do the will of God. The Kingdom belongs to those who know they have nothing, who have come to the realization of their utter bankruptcy. Jesus is not talking about material things but spiritual ones. This is all about humility, spiritual bankruptcy, mourning over sin, meekly coming before God, almost afraid to look up. The heart is the issue. The heart is where God meets us. The heart is the hardest area to heal because the heart is where "pride" springs out.

Today's Thought, Sunday March 5th, 2006

Pride is worthy of condemnation because it violates the first commandment: having no other gods before God Himself (Ex. 20:3). "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16). We need to realize where is our spiritual battle is. "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."--Matt. 26:41. God knows every believers' hearts and God will accept any believers who truly believe His Son, who died for our sins. God judge us based on how we allow God (Holy Spirit) help us discern truth from false. Keep in mind that all personal desires are judged by God’s moral will and wisdom. The heart is the source of our emotions, thoughts and motives. The heart is the part of our being where we desire, deliberate, and decide. God has given the Holy Spirit to enable us to have a holy relationship with our Father. The key to holiness is submitting to the Spirit's control in daily life that will enable us to overcome the human nature and live through grace's sufficiency. We cannot make ourselves holy but He can. The key is we are to be trustful faith in Him rather than be trustful in faith. Holiness is our spiritual relationship with God alone. As a disciple, my Christian faith should be inward, not outward because the Bible teaches that faith is of the spirit and not of the flesh. Christ dwells in my heart, and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is the burning core of the Christian faith.