Reading: Luke 18:1 - 19:10

The kingdom of heaven belongs to one type of person:
one who has collapsed under human reality,
who knows poverty of strength, ability, virtue.
An inner condition so destitute, so poor in
possessing nothing within,
joined to the certainty that you never will,
because you never could and
never truly . . . have.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

These "poor in spirit" are not the humble,
the self-conscious or the low self-esteemed.
These poor are way beneath such:
theirs is complete despair of self.

Unending and gaping need is their awareness,
but their focus is fully fixed on the Solution.
There is no more hope that "self" can do it.
Their desperation forms a passion toward
the Only Answer in the universe: Jesus.

The "poor" are the pitiful destitute, the utter incapable.
The beggar, who can do nothing else . . . only beg. 

The word translated in Matthew 5:3 as "poor" is
'Ptoches," meaning poor and helpless:
one who is so poor that he can only obtain
his living by begging, this poor one has nothing at all.
(Zodhiates' Word Study)

When the Great Father marks you for
His heavenly kingdom, He sees to it
that you are reduced to
such impoverishment
that God alone is left, the only hope. 

Humility asks
but poverty begs.

Humility will know exaltation
but poverty possesses the kingdom.

"God blesses those who realize their need of him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them."
Matt. 5:3 NLT

The impoverished poor actually possess the Kingdom,
all its glories and supplies.
Beggars not only enter the kingdom,
all that is kingdom splendor actually belongs to them
and they can possess and enjoy it without limitation!
The pursuit of . . .
strength or riches, knowledge and ability
are altars and sources
blocking the tiny gate that only the
naked destitute can pass through.

Adam and Eve refused to be dependent on God as
little children: ever needy and always waiting.
Their first realization after sin
was of their nakedness.

We inherited a naked soul and a dead spirit
from Adam and Eve.
Only proud delusion keeps us from seeing
our bankrupt human condition,
ours from conception. 

Luke records a many faceted story of the beggar:
Jesus' brilliant pictures of the truly poor,
His living encounters with those who beg and
His loss of those who will not be so reduced.

THE WIDOW PLEADING FOR JUSTICE

Luke 18:1-8

The widow was without protection,
without covering, without power . . . even without love.
And so she begged, unashamedly, persistently.

As long as you preserve dignity,
keep trying or stay dejected;
live complaining about injustice,
you are not yet a beggar with nothing left. 

One who prays is a pray-er, and will be answered
but one who will "cry out day and night"
is a beggar and that one will
receive from God more than justice.
He will accomplish all that is needed
without the usual delay of mere asking.
"He will bring about justice for them quickly." 

"And will not (our just) God defend and protect
and avenge His elect (His chosen ones),
who cry to Him day and night?
Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf?
I tell you, He will defend and
protect and avenge them speedily."
Luke 18:7, 8 Amplified Bible 

Jesus ends the story with a piercing question:
"However, when the Son of Man comes,
will He find faith on the earth?" verse 8

The "widow and the unjust judge"
was merely a story, an illustration of what
moves God to act.
But will Jesus find that same passionate cry
of desperation poured out to the Father?
A plea so sure of His hearing and so certain
of His answer, that it will not cease for a moment
or a day or even a night to wail to Him?

Despair turned bitter will not ask,
believing no One answers.
This is not a beggar but a fool.

Faith is the beggar who turns
his critical need toward God without restraint
and even without decency.
This! This is profound faith that
God is the only One who can.
And He will!

God answers such a passionate cry with
an equal enthusiasm to answer!

        Will He find such a faith in you? in me?

Copyright © 2003 Martha Kilpatrick