Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.‭‭
-Matthew‬ ‭5:3‬

There is a story about a mouse who falls into a hole and gets stuck at the bottom. He keeps trying to climb out but he just can’t do it, continually slipping back to the bottom. Someone comes along and offers to help the mouse out, but he refuses, sure he can do it on his own. And he keeps trying, and sliding back down. And he rejects offer after offer, until finally, with a crowd gathered around the hole, all willing to help, the mouse breaths his last, drowning in pride.

How many of us are like that mouse, refusing to admit that we don’t have the power to save ourselves? We insist on working our way into heaven, never stopping to see a free way has been made, and never realizing that no matter how hard we work, we’ll never get ourselves there.

The great news is that when we accept that we are too poor in spirit to buy our own way into God’s family, when we finally ask for grace from God through the blood of Jesus Christ, then we receive the Kingdom of Heaven. Only Jesus can get us there, and only by accepting the grace of the Gospel can we be saved.  When we are crucified with Christ and raised to life again with Him, we are adopted into God’s family, and that is not dependent on our work, but on God’s mercy.  Praise God for His amazing gift!

Discussion Questions:

1: What pride do you carry that keeps you from admitting your need for a savior? How can you get beyond that pride to be truly poor in spirit?

2: Why do you believe we need Jesus to get us into Heaven? What do you think a truly sinless, holy Heaven will be like? Why do you want to receive the Kingdom of Heaven?

Pray for your humility. Pray that God will help you to be, and stay, poor in spirit, so that you will always fully rely on the Holy Spirit. Pray that God will use you to show others their need for a savior, and that many will come to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Thank Him for grace freely given!



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