I'm going through Beth Moore's Bible Study "Jesus the One and Only"... It's one I went through a few years ago, and got out again. I just want to share her exact words in this section with you.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach the good new to the poor' (Luke 4:18). Christ didn't mean the financially destitute. The Greek word for poor is ptochos, indicating 'utter helplessness, complete destitution, afflicted, distressed.' I think God is far too faithful to let anyone make it through life without confronting seasons of utter helplessness. Look at the remainder of the definition: 'subsisting on the alms of others.' We know what that means in the physical and monetary sense, but since we know Christ was referring to far more than finances, let's think about another application.
God created us to need something or someone else. Sooner or later, any healthy individual discovers that autonomy doesn't cut it. Once we confront our need for someone or something beyond ourselves we will subsist on the alms of others if we don't discover Christ. Like beggars we go from person to person with our empty cup, crying, ; Can't you add anything to my life?' They might throw in a coin or two. In fact, a few may be weekly... and probably weary... tithers. But when we shake the cup, the tinny echo reminds us how empty we remain. Until we allow Jesus to fill our cups daily, we simply subsist. You were meant to thrive."
No comments:
Post a Comment