Blessed are the poor in spirit

Last night we walked through the first beatitude ... "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".  Our intent within this series is to examine a teaching of Jesus and then to search the gospels for the practical ways in which he lived them out.  This will lead us into some practical ways that we can live out the counter cultural message in our own lives.


"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"

• the example that we looked at can be found in Jesus encounter with the individual known only as the "rich young ruler" found in Mark 10
• ¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
  ¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[d]”
  ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
  ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
  ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
  ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
  
  As you read this ... consider a few things:
  
  1. What was his (the young mans) image of obtaining eternal life?
  2. In the end, where did he place his trust? 
• Henri Nouwen identified 3 lies that we listen to in determining our worth
• I am what I have
• I am what I do
• I am who others say that I am

Reflect on a fear that you have based around one of these lies ... how does it control you?  How tightly do you hold on to it?  In our reflection time we took a moment to meditate on what it feels to live with clenched fists and how Jesus calls us to live with hands held open.  We are called to release the lie that we cling so tightly to out of our insecurities and to trust that only He is enough.

• What was the lie that the young ruler could not unclench his fists from?
• What is yours?
• We finished our time with eyes closed, hands open, and praying for Jesus to "lead us in the way of trust"