For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.We are not to think too highly of ourselves as far as our standing in Christ; instead, we are to only focus on being His servant.
In Matthew 5, Jesus begins to teach his disciples…
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Luke 6:20
Then looking up at His disciples, He said: Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God is yours.
This indicates a healthy attitude in one seeing himself or herself as spiritually poor (or lacking something). It is a spiritual desire to want to seek Christ more and more.
Psalm 73:25
Whom do I have in heaven but you? And I desire nothing on earth but You.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
God has to be the guide in pointing us in the proper direction, but it requires a person declaring that they need God’s help.
Philippians 3:12-13
Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead.
Romans 7:18
For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.
To recognize that you are “spiritually poor” means that you are relying and depending upon Him. It is the contrast to self-sufficiency and living as the world lives.
Revelation 3:17
Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
2 Corinthians 9:8-9
Am I saying this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the law also say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain. Is God really concerned with oxen?
God is able to make all grace abound to you so that you will not lack in anything…this can only occur, however, when you recognize your dependence upon God.
Another beatitude is to have the ability to mourn, grieve, and deal with loss.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.
Isaiah 61:2-4
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of our God’s vengeance; to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord, to glorify Him. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the former devastations; they will renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
Only those who have known or experienced loss can have the desire to rebuild. In all of the world, there has been losses…many who are lost need Christ, and it should give us the desire to proclaim the importance of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
Matthew 23:37
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing!”
John 11:33-35
When Jesus say her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.” Jesus wept.
God was grieved over the sinful state that man was involved with. He loved us enough to take action. He that knew no sin gave up His life for us.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 15:3
For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 