City Life Starter

Written by Stefan Johnsson

The Word

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3 (ESV)

²⁷ Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” ²⁸ So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” ³⁰ They went out of the town and were coming to him.

³⁹ Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ And many more believed because of his word. ⁴² They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:27-30,39-42

Reflection

It’s easier to understand Matthew 5:3 when you compare it to a story in the Bible. The woman at the well in John 4 is a perfect example. The woman had lived a life where she felt shame and made to feel as an outcast in her own village. She had to come during the middle of the day, in the full heat, in order to draw water. It was usually in the early morning that all the women came to draw water and talk(and in many ways gossip). So one could understand why she did not want to be around them.

Jesus was there when she arrived and knew all about her life. He then offered her something better, a life where she would never thirst again(metaphorically). She was so full of God’s love for her and Jesus’ words, that she dropped the jar and ran to the village to tell everyone about Him. They came and then believed for themselves.

She went from an outcast to an adopted daughter and then an evangelist. She went from a life of a shame to one full of boldness. This is a great story of how God can see something in someone that no mattelse does and how women are powerful ministers of the Word, even in a society that viewed women as less. For she was poor in spirit and her price is now the kingdom of heaven.

Application

I do believe that everyone has a moment when you come to the end of yourself and realize that God is all you got. Even if you say you’ve been a Christian all your life, there was a time where you had tried to run your life on your own, failed, and sought God. Without these experiences of being “poor in spirit,” we never truly see the power that God can offer us through the Holy Spirit. A prideful spirit is the antithesis.

Learn to experience God in your moments of hurt and pain. He will show you His glory and power through you and also His compassion for you.

Prayer

Father in heaven, help me to rely on You more each day. That in Your strength I am made whole. Thank you Father for sending Your Son to die for our sins. In Jesus’ name, amen.