February 22 Devotion - Blessed are...

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

طُوبَى لِلْمَسَاكِينِ بِالرُّوحِ، لأَنَّ لَهُمْ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ.

Matthew 5:3

I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

قُلْتُ لَكُمْ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ لِكَي يَثْبُتَ فَرَحِي فِيكُمْ، وَلِكَي يَكُونَ فَرَحُكُمْ كَامِلاً

John 15:11

Since the original language of the Gospel of Matthew was written in Greek (although Jesus spoke Aramaic), the word used for blessed is ‘Makarios’ which means deep contentment and lasting joy.

Real joy is found when we realize that joy is in the spiritual realm that is interior to ourselves. In our spiritual realm we are designed to know, experience, and enjoy God.

In the same way that man designed a car to run on gasoline (or electricity if you own an electric car); I believe God designed us to run on Himself. He is the fuel our spirits were designed to run on.

I always pondered on why being ‘poor in spirit’ is a good thing, until I learnt that it means: it is when I realize my spiritual bankruptcy and depend on God who is the real food and fuel to my spirit, and He comes to live within me that I can have Makarios. When I accept His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, I receive The Holy Spirit and I can have The Kingdom of God within me and be guaranteed eternity with God.

For me it is straight forward, if anyone wants everlasting joy, Makarios, it is only found in Jesus who makes my joy complete.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for revealing to me that You are the source of my ‘Makarios’. I realize that I am poor in spirit and You are the fuel and food for my spirit. Thank You Father God for sinking the message deep in my heart that lasting joy is not found in worldly things. Thank You Father God that You sent Jesus to redeem me and grant me salvation and life eternal as a pure act of grace which I do not deserve. Thank You Lord for Your abundant blessings in my life and Your deep inseparable love. Thank You Jesus for giving me Your joy and for making my joy complete. Lord, I praise You and glorify You. I declare Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and I pray in His holy name. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein