DAY 19
Marc Turnage
Scripture
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. - Matthew 5:3-5
As we study a portion of the Beatitudes today, Marc challenges us first to understand what the words in the Bible meant in Jesus’ day to better understand what they mean for our world today.
Marc explains that in Hebrew, the phrase “poor in spirit”—which we misinterpret as someone who acknowledges their spiritual poverty—actually represents the poor who are endowed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. He explains that the word “meek” also means humility, a rare quality in today’s world. He also points out that the words for “poor” and “meek” are almost identical, which points at the first interpreting the second.
And finally, blessing those who mourn isn’t referring to sadness due to a loss. “Mourn” here means a yearning for God’s redemption. There is both a social and a spiritual aspect to what Jesus values here. Jesus values the poor in spirit, the humble, and those who yearn for God’s redemption.
Being a follower of Jesus means that we align ourselves with those behaviors and characteristics that He valued: the poor in spirit, the meek, and those who mourn.
Question: Do we value humility as part of our spiritual walks? Do we yearn for God's redemption? Do we align our spiritual life and practices with those values that Jesus valued?
Family Chat: What does it mean to be humble? Talk about some examples of when you saw someone display a humble spirit by their actions.
Take Action: Talk to your life group or accountability partners about practical ways to practice humility in your daily relationships, and how to create a culture in your family and community that yearns for God’s redemption.
Additional Resources: