March 29, 2010

What is basic, bottom-line Christianity?  Well, think of the first words ever recorded that Jesus Christ preached – the opening words of the world’s most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The “poor in spirit”!  God’s values are the opposite of ours.  He says He will bless us if we’re humble; if we take the least prestigious place – at the table, or whatever; if we deliberately decrease and let Him increase.

And how much will He bless us?  He will award us the entire kingdom of heaven – so great it’s beyond our understanding.

Friend, God’s way to up is down. 

Said Samuel Rutherford of Scotland (1600-1661), “Be humbled, walk softly; down with your topsail.  Stoop!  Stoop!  It is a low entry to go in at heaven’s gates.”

This will be a new direction for your heart-life.

Turn a corner

© Copyright 2010 Anne Ortlund.  All rights reserved