A heart for the have nots

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;
the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
Happy are those who mourn;
God will comfort them!
Happy are those who are humble;
they will receive what God has promised!”  (verses 3-5)

Read Matthew 5:1-12

Jesus always has a heart for the ‘have nots’ – the poor. That is because his way is exactly the opposite to everyone else’s. From early on you get to know the way of the world, where the proud and self-satisfied seem to attain spiritual peace in contrast to those with a sense of guilt and unworthiness, where death is your inevitable and ultimate destiny, and where those who are greedy and ruthless have a greater propensity for success than those who are humble.

When this twisted world is finally set straight and a new order is put in place, Jesus will ensure that his way prevails. Then those who are self-righteous will be demoted and the spiritually inept will be strengthened and promoted. At that time death will no longer be the final answer but only the beginning. The downtrodden, the victims and the losers will finally triumph at the expense of those who exploited them. Then Jesus’ heart for the ‘have nots’ will be fully revealed.

Lord, just as you have a heart for me, give me a heart for the ‘have nots’ of the world. Amen.

adapted by Richard Fox from devotion by Richard Hauser, in ‘Assurance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2004)

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