Tuesday, October 20th, 2020
If you’ll remember, three weeks ago Padraic was talking to Matthew about what Jesus said at the Last Supper: “Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him (John 14:21).”
“Was Jesus talking about the ten commandments or something else?” Padraic had asked Matthew.
“You were there on the mountaintop near the shore of the Sea of Galilee when Jesus gave eight of His commands.” Padraic had a puzzled look on his face.
Matthew continued: “Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'”
“But that’s a statement, not a command,” Padraic said emphatically.
“What Jesus is really saying is, ‘Be poor in spirit,’ and that’s a command. Your spirit is your spiritual life in Christ. What He meant with this command is that you are to be poor in yourself and rich in God. Don’t you remember what John the Baptist said, ‘He must become greater; I must become less.'”
Padraic smiled the smile of someone who has just learned an important mystery of life. “I see it! He was always saying that in one way or another. ‘Think much of God; think little of yourself.’ That was one of His most important commands.”
To be continued….
Tags: Christianity, Discipleship, Jesus