The deeply spiritual man is first deeply aware of his own need and therefore is deeply humble. In a world that abhors neediness and educates, legislates, and prospers its’ people to be “independent” and less and less a burden on others, the spiritual man realizes that his weakness and need is insurmountable on his own, and requires divine help.

This is where the true seeker is born - an encounter with his own need drives him to seek and search for the One who can fill his need, quench his thirst, and satisfy his deepest longings. Sometimes after turning to the right and left, after every vain thing this world has to offer, the man turns to find he is in fact wretched, miserable, poor, and naked without the divine. He must find the divine!

It is a rare treasure to find this on the earth, and I pray less so in the church, one who understands that he is in fact “poor in spirit”. Jesus, the divine answer to the enigma of our need, blesses those with ultimate strength - “the Kingdom of Heaven”. (Matt 5:3)

While at a worship service back home in Katy recently, I had the strange feeling during a worship song that I was being watched. I was closing my eyes, attempting to really connect with God, and at that moment feeling very weak and in need of the Lord’s touch.

I opened my eyes to see if anyone was looking at me, finding no one, but realizing that many around me were merely “basking” in the worship service, sitting down comfortably enjoying the melody of the song, arm around their loved one, quietly whispering to those around them and chuckling. Not really engaging with God - but being here was enough right?

I looked around again, and I saw at least two ladies near me with medication half-way sticking out of their purses. Again, I was struck by our real weakness. But who, in that moment, was casting themselves before the answer to their need, and who was merely surpressing it with attending a “religous activity”? Surely medication isn’t wrong, but is it the first solution we turn to?

I closed my eyes again, realizing again a measure of my own deep neediness. And what a gift it was - for only then did I turn my gaze toward the One with all power, strength, wisdom, and true, pure, unadulterated love for me! Oh, worship just naturally flowed. Perhaps someone was actually looking over at me thinking - “Wow, that guy is really spiritual. Look how into it he is, really singing with his hands out like that - truly a solid Christian!”

Solid? More like broken. Really spiritual? Sure, if really spiritual is realizing my low place before Him alongside His great dream to fulfill me with Him. True strength isn’t strength, for our so called strength keeps us from true strength - weakness. True weakness is strength, and the poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven forever and ever.