Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).
Salvation is personal. Those who realize their need cry out to the Lord, and He answers their cry. The problem is that many do not consider themselves “poor.” Pride keeps many from coming to the Lord. The criteria for Salvation is that we must come to the place where we realize that, in ourselves, dwells no good thing. Many would take exception to that statement, but that is our condition without the Lord. And that is the roadblock many cannot seem to get by. The Word of God makes it clear that Salvation can be found only by admitting our desperate need for the Lord.
To the natural man, the things of God don’t make sense and are only for the simple, the unlearned, who lean on “religion” as a crutch in their life. What they don’t realize is that this “simple” way is not religion, but relationship with the Lord, and it is the only way to fill the void in our hearts that can only be filled by knowing and serving the Lord. The things of the Lord can only be known by realizing our great need and being born spiritually.
“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
We must become the “poor man” to see the Kingdom of God. The natural man is unable to see and appreciate all the Lord has provided for those that humble themselves before Him and come His way. The Father sent His Son to die on a cruel Cross to pay the sin debt and to open the way into His very Presence. It is a narrow way to all the blessings of God, and the Bible tells us that few find this way.
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14).
The “strait gate” and the “narrow way” is the Cross of Calvary. Our need was so great that the Lord had to die a sacrificial death to pay the sin debt owed to God. By His death at Calvary, all who come by faith in His sacrificial death there, are born spiritually and come into all the blessings of God. It is a narrow way; we must admit that we are indeed “poor” and in need of the only way that leads to life – to the life of God within us. Missionary Jim Elliot when facing martyrdom made the following entry in his journal:
“He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Jim Elliot chose to give his life as a martyr for the cause of the Gospel. He faced certain death. We face natural death at some point in our lives. This natural life ends at some point. When we choose the life of God to dwell within us, we have traded that which we cannot keep for that which will last through eternity.
If you do not know the Lord today, know this, He loves you and died on the Cross as proof of that love. I urge you to become this “poor man” today realizing that, in ourselves, we cannot live a life pleasing to the Lord. Our need was great, but His provision is greater. He calls out to all those that have heard His call and desire to come His way. Know Him today and be blessed. He stands at the door of your heart. Won’t you open the door!
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
The A,B,C,’s of Salvation
The Sinner’s Prayer
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
Find podcasts of this article, and all the articles on this website on the “Here I Am Lord” podcast on Spotify for Creators, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic.
Follow to receive email notifications regarding new articles
Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2026
Here I Am, Lord - - tqministries.com 