| | Helloooo xanga~! Its been more than half a year ago that i've last written in here and man its so different. Took me a while to figure out where to write a new log =P But i must say, what inspired me to use xanga again was one person who's xanga logs i kept reading in my emails- Candy. =) I realized how much better xanga is than facebook. I still don't kno how to use that thing.
I have been thru alot of stuf but the main thing i wanna share up here is my growth in Christ =) I have been meaning to put up a log about the book i started reading last year called "sermon on the mount" by D.M.L Jones but i just... chose to be busy. But let us start with Matt 5. Here begins the longest and maybe the most detailed preaching that Jesus gave. He pointed out the different ways a man could live and react and think in given circumstances, including every aspect of daily life. Its not only a doctrine pointing out ways to live, it dealt with the very heart of the matter- the way that men sin and have their hearts taken away by it. What did he start with? The Beatitudes.
Now, i never realli gave much thought into the Beatitudes. After all, they're just some poetic expressions that are nice to hang on the wall. No. That is not what they are at all. They are the very descriptions of a Christian. I found that hard to believe coz in comes the first line "Blessed are the poor in spirit.." Like, what...? Shouldnt we be strong in spirit? Like, a bit more confident and all that to go out there? Then comes the next lines "Blessed are those who mourn.... blessed are the meek..." Like um... aren't we here to advance the gospel of God? Why are we s'pose to be poor in spirit & mourning? I was always turned off by that and never realli paid much attention to the beatitudes.
But let's just consider that first line of Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The image of a guy that's not confident, slouched and basically a loser comes into my mind. But because the kingdom of heaven is theirs and they are blessed, that must not be the image. A few things must be pointed out. Firstly, Jesus is definitely pointing out a clear difference between a man of this world and the Christian man. You either belong in the one or the other. And there is a clear distinction between the two. Secondly, nowhere does it say that these descriptions are natural. Indeed they are the antithesis of our worldly nature. They do not come naturally to us but require a will and determination to carry out. Thirdly, it is easy to be looked down upon by others and to be treated with contempt. So let us now focus on this "poor in spirit" bit. Indeed our radars go off at the idea of someone being so not confident coz look, in society, you either express yourself or die off. No, let us not look at it thru that lens, instead, focus it into you in front of God. If u do not feel that you are entirely helpless and naked in spirit in the face of God, then it is safe to say that you have never realli faced him. To be poor in spirit is your attitude of yourself. So all those self assured, self confident, self beliefs of self. What to do wif them? Be poor in them. Now, that doesn't mean everyone should go around saying "I'm a vile sinner! I deserve to die!" or suppress their personalities and be one of them who lay themselves down across the road and get run over. No. It is to rid yourself of all prideful attitudes and admit that we are no better than anyone else, that we need God, that we are hopeless, helpless and are indeed poor in spirit.
That is what is meant by poor in spirit. It is a complete emptying one self's pride and self belief. It is the realization that we are nothing without God. However, if u look at it this way, you cannot be filled with a new self unless you empty your old self. And when you do come to this realization, then you are what our Lord calls "blessed" and that blessing carries along with it the strong promise God's heavenly kingdom. Not only do we get to be a part of it, but He states "..for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
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| | Posted 7/7/2008 5:52 PM - 18 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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