Ability (part 5) Thought about the abilities to be under God's Spirit

Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Awaiting the Passage of Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Poor in Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

    The Bible presents many paradoxes that challenge our human way of thinking. We think of the poor as possessing very little, yet Jesus said the riches of heaven belong to the poor in spirit.

Self-reliance robs us of God’s good gifts.

    Jesus insisted that in order to follow Him, we must deny self. As long as we rely on our own resources, we will never place our trust in Him. As we acknowledge the poverty of our souls, we realize how desperately we need a Savior. Jesus declared: “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matt. 4:17). God has so much to give the one who recognizes his need and will call upon Jesus!

    Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. He had just encountered the rich ruler, who valued his possessions so much that he could not give them up to follow Jesus (Luke 18:18-24). Jesus later encountered Zacchaeus, a wealthy, notorious sinner (Luke 19:1-10). Despite Zacchaeus’s material wealth, he recognized his spiritual poverty and found salvation. Jesus taught the disciples that true wealth is found in a relationship with God. Those who realize their inherent spiritual poverty apart from God will trust in Him, and He will enrich their lives immeasurably. Do not allow your resources, wisdom, talent, or abilities to prevent you from trusting the Person who can bring you abundant life.

From: Experiencing God Day by Day

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Preceding articles:

Ability
Ability (part 2)
Ability (part 3) Thoughts around Ability

Ability (part 4) Thought about the ability to have ability

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Additional reading

1. When having found faith through the study of the Bible we do need to do works of faith
2. Facing our existence every day
3. Leading people astray!
4. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) versus Christianity and end times
5. Justification – salvation is by grace through faith – JI Packer
6. January 27, 417, Pope Innocent I condemning Pelagius about Faith and Works
7. Thought for those who think it is not necessary to do any works any more
8. Which is worse–works without faith, or faith without works?
9. Christians remaining hidden not sharing the gospel
10. 100-Day Identity Makeover: Day 56
11. Worthy partakers of the body of Christ
12. Seeds, weeds and kingdoms
13. The Mountain: Radical Obedience

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London an exaggerated microcosm of the UK at large

English: Ladbroke Grove Looking north towards the railway bridge. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The city where I loved living in but could not afford it any more has even become more impossible to reside for many. People who have lived there for generations, who are born there have no alternative to leave the city and look for cheaper ground to reside.

Striking new figures show that the proportion of households classified as either poor or wealthy has grown across the United Kingdom in recent decades, leaving a shrinking middle. But it is in London that the trend is by far the most pronounced.
London is now a city of contradictions. It is the richest part of the country, but also its most unequal, with the highest levels of poverty. It is home to some of the world’s most expensive real estate, but has the highest proportion of renters of any area of the country, many of whom are locked out of home ownership. It has some of the world’s best teaching hospitals, but suffers from profound health inequalities.

As with every cosmopolitan you get an exaggerated microcosm of the country at large, distilling its inequality to concentrated extremes.

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Most of London’s poor have jobs, many of which do not pay the minimum wage thanks to unscrupulous companies using tricks like keeping tips to top up wages. They don’t bat an eyelid at commuting over two hours on three buses to get to their office-cleaning jobs because they can’t afford the tube, or because they need to start at 4am so they can clear out by the time the office workers arrive. They live with the fear their teenage children will get caught up in the gang violence that barely touches the professionals who walk the same streets in Peckham, Ladbroke Grove and King’s Cross. Yes, London has wonderful free museums and parks – but who has time to visit them when you’re trying to hold down two or three jobs?

Read more about it:

The Observer view on London’s wealth gap

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Count your blessings

If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than three quarters of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, or a few coins lying around, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than sickness, you are more blessed than the million that will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of war, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation,

you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married,

you are blessed with a rare gift.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone’s hand, touch them on the shoulder, or even hug them, you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over countless millions in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings,

and remind others how blessed we all are.

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