“Blessed Are the Poor”

​B I B L E  B I T S  &  B I T E S
Devotions for Families

Season: Beattitudes
Episode 1: “Blessed Are the Poor”
Today’s Bible Bite: Matthew 5:3 – “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (NLT)

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QgeNDb1nck (Douglas Talks – Poor in Spirit)

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Most people, if given three wishes, would use up one of those wishes to have more money. We think being rich solves life’s problems, so we really don’t like the idea of being ‘poor.’ Being poor means having to go without and having to rely on others. Some people think they’re poor because they can’t just have everything they want—lots of new clothes, toys, a vacation home, the best car, etc. Others who are poor cannot afford basic things like a place to live or food. Yet we all think that more money will solve our problems. We want to be able to do what we want, when we want, however we want. Isn’t that what life is all about? But Jesus taught something very different. He taught the people that those who recognize their need for God—those who are spiritually poor—are the ones who will have all that they need. What did Jesus mean?

As long as we think we have what it takes to live life well on our own, we will never look for God’s help. When it comes to finding the real meaning in life, we are all poor; some of us just don’t realize it. Lots of people fill up their time doing the things they have been told are important—getting an education, having a family, getting a job, and enjoying retirement until they die. But life doesn’t end there. It continues on, but only those who realize they need God to help them, those who admit they are poor, go to heaven. We can never be good enough—sin leaves us in spiritual debt. Until that debt is paid, we cannot go to heaven. Jesus paid the debt, but if we never accept His payment on our behalf, we will have to pay the debt ourselves. Recognizing that we are spiritually poor, is the first step to being able to go to God’s wonderful kingdom.

Think about it...
• We don’t like the idea of being poor. Why not?
• Jesus said that it is good to be ‘spiritually poor’ because then we will recognize that we need God. Why do we need God?
• God has got a wonderful place, heaven, where He wants us to live with Him, but only those whose debt for sin has been paid can go. What is the debt we all owe?
• We can’t pay the debt by ourselves. But good news, Jesus already paid it, we just have to accept it. How do we do that?
• We need to choose to obey God and stop trying to live life our own way. When we do, what has God promised?
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Prayer: Thank you, God, that when I recognize that I am spiritually poor and need you, I am actually very ‘rich’ because I will get to live in heaven with you. Help me to always rely on you. Dear Jesus, thank you for paying the debt I owed, but could never pay on my own.
~ Pastor Jane