The musings of Peter

I recently heard a preacher talk about Poor in Spirit. After all the Bible says they are blessed. He flipped back and forth between Poor and Poor in Spirit. Which puzzled me since they are to different things. Being Poor typically means having a lack of material resources, while Poor in Spirit obviously refers to a lack of Spirit.

I believe that there are a wide range of Christians. On one end of the spectrum you have Mother Theresa and the other you have Hitler. Not all Christians make it to Heaven. For those who believe otherwise consider that Heaven, the most perfect place, was the home of Lucifer before he and his band were cast out. Hard hearted people, who may have been baptized but have since decided to rebel against the authority of God, will not cross the threshold of Heaven. I am sure they will March into Hell with their heads held high, proud of their decision. When faced with the eternal consequences of that decision they will enter into a blinding rage fueled by a false sense of justice. They will not repent but will shake their fists at Heaven yelling Your time will come…hapless to the reality of loss. Evil deludes the mind.

But in the middle ofnthat spectrum of Christians are those who are poor in spirit. People who wrestle with going to church once a week. Who kive good moral lives. People who believe that hard work and steadfastness are their call. They wish for but do not expect miracles. They have well ordered families and are financially stable something they attribute to their own devices guided in part by a benevolent but distant Jesus. It is to them that Jesus promises to show the face of God. To light the way. He offers to them Spirit, something that adds flavor to life, that adds Joy to sunrises, a sense of accomplishment to Charity, that promises Hope to the life traveler. The hard work, steadfastness and faithfulness ends in a glorious retirement in Heaven. Now the rich in Spirit, they are the saints. God has called them to encourage the poor in Spirit. We read their stories and are encouraged.

Can one be rich and poor in spirit? Yes. Just like one can be poor and rich in Spirit. No one need be poor in a Christian world. But in a imperfect world, you will have poor. Our world is imperfect,which gives us the opportunity to imitate God. We can be charitable, can care for the sick, visit prisoners, we can wash feet like Jesus. God, who takes care of us like the lillies of the field, giving us water and sunlight and fertile soil in abundance, have given us all we need to feed and clothe the world. He gives us all talents, which when used properly help us distribute the goodness of God to all. On top of that he gives us Blessings. Extra special gifts, like healing or near misses or the perfect lover. The blessings are the extra encouragement, a note from God that says I have my eye on you. Even sicknesses can be a blessing. Sometimes God makes you a blessing to others. Sickness does that, you become a blessing to others.

I could go on. If you are reading this, you should finish for me. Us Poor in Spirit should spend more time comparing notes.

Peace