When Jesus started healing people and casting out demons, people began following Him. Many of them followed Him because they thought that they would find happiness. However, Jesus knew that in order for them to find happiness, they had to understand that their happiness would not be based on the ways of this world. Jesus then taught them the beatitudes, which means blessed—happy. The first beatitude that Jesus mentioned was that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God." The poor in spirit means spiritual bankruptcy. The religious leaders during Jesus' time relied on doing good by following the law of God and their traditions. However, their good works could not lead them to heaven because their good works were not enough to save them. In God's eyes, there was nothing that they could do and give to gain their salvation.
Being in spiritual bankruptcy, we cannot save ourselves from our spiritual lostness apart from our Lord Jesus' saving grace. We cannot gain our salvation with our good works. We are like a starving man who wants to eat, but he does not have money to buy food. Someone has to give him bread in order for him to eat. When we admit our spiritual bankruptcy, humble ourselves before God, turn away from our sin, and believe in our Lord Jesus, we will then freely receive our salvation and enter God's kingdom.
When we think of happiness, we think of leisure, contentment in this world, riches, abundance, success, etc. There was a movie by Will Smith called "The Pursuit of Happyness." It is the story of Christopher Gardner, who was a struggling salesman and became a successful businessman. The movie's moral story is if a person works hard and never gives up, he will eventually become successful, making him happy. His happiness is based on his success. This world's true happiness is not about having what we want in this world, but being saved from our sin and having God in our lives. Jesus said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36).
Ask yourself these questions: What is true happiness? Where can I find true happiness? What must I do to receive true happiness in my life?
Write down all the worries that you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayers:
Father in heaven, thank you for saving me through your Son, Jesus Christ. I am blessed because you saved me freely, despite my spiritual bankruptcy. I am saved not by my good works but through my faith in the Lord Jesus. Thank you for accepting me into your kingdom. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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