"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:3).This is the first beatitude spoken by our Lord. What a strange contradiction it is, to call the poor in spirit blessed! In the world, it's the rich who are called blessed or 'lucky'.
Jesus is the best example for being poor in spirit (II Cor 8:9). He emptied Himself of all His glory in heaven and came down to the earth. The blessed secret of becoming poor in spirit is to empty oneself for the sake of Christ. When St.Paul discovered this truth, he emptied himself for Christ and counted all things but dung (Phil 3:7,8).
Once we have emptied ourselves or consecrated ourselves, even if anything that is dear to us is taken away suddenly, our close walk with God will not be disturbed and we will not lose our peace or get troubled. This is proof enough that we have emptied ourselves or consecrated all that we have.
If you have not emptied yourself of everything, one day, when the time comes for you to leave this world, it will be very hard for you to empty yourself and leave!
- Late Pastor T.U.Thomas, in 'Morning Manna'
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