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Mornings With Jesus
Mornings With Jesus
Humble Yourself Under the Mighty Hand of God! | Joshua Scott Zeitz
What does it truly mean to be "poor in spirit," and why does Jesus call this state "blessed"? This profound exploration of Matthew 5:3 unpacks one of the most counterintuitive teachings in Scripture—that spiritual poverty actually leads to kingdom riches.
Joshua Scott Zeitz vulnerably shares his personal journey from pride and self-sufficiency to humble surrender. "Before I came to Jesus, I was so full of pride and arrogance," he reflects. "In essence, I thought I was the smartest person in the room because my room consisted of well, just me. It was a horrible room." This powerful testimony illuminates how recognizing our spiritual bankruptcy becomes the doorway to transformation.
Drawing wisdom from 1 Peter 5:5-7, we examine how placing ourselves under God's Word constitutes true biblical humility. The apostle Peter—who once rebuked Jesus and later denied him—eventually understood this principle deeply. His story reminds us that God consistently "gives grace to the humble" while opposing "the proud, the disdainful, the presumptuous." When we surrender our self-sufficiency and acknowledge our need for Christ, we position ourselves to receive everything He desires to give us.
Are you struggling with something that weighs you down? Try this radical approach: instead of relying on your own understanding, place yourself completely under God's Word. Quote it. Think on it. Let it consume you more than your problems. Then watch as His truth gradually melts away your burdens and transforms your life. You are blessed to be a blessing—what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you!
Hello and welcome to Mornings with Jesus, your daily dose of encouragement. I am your host, joshua Scott Seitz. Today's encouragement comes from Matthew, chapter 5 and verse 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Something my awesome pastor says if you're always the smartest person in the room, find another room. Listen. Before I came to Jesus, before he changed me, delivered me, gave me a new heart, one that possessed new desires and a love for God and people. I was so full of pride and arrogance. In essence, I thought I was the smartest person in the room because my room consisted of well, just me. It was a horrible room, I know until that, as Jesus stepped into it and I saw myself as I truly was a miserable sinner devoid of life and in need of a Savior. The good news is this I'm no longer that wretched sinner. I have been redeemed. I no longer identify with that old man. I'm a new creation. He didn't simply clean up my old heart, he gave me a new one. I'm a new creation. He didn't simply clean up my own heart, he gave me a new one. I want to encourage you today.
Speaker 1:The most humble thing you or I can do today and every day is to purposely place ourselves under the word of God. This is true biblical humility, and this is the place where God can mold us and make us into the person he wants us to be, the person that is the most successful and prosperous. I love the way this truth is illustrated in 1 Peter 5, 5-7. Likewise, you younger men of lesser rank and experience, be subject to your elders, seek their counsel and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. Tie on the servant's apron, for God is opposed to the proud, the disdainful, the presumptuous, and he defeats them, but he gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. Set aside self-righteous pride so that he may exalt you to a place of honor in his service At the appropriate time, casting all your cares, all your anxieties, all your worries and all your concerns once and for all on him, for he cares about you with deepest affection and watches over you very carefully.
Speaker 1:Keep in mind this is written by the same Peter who rebuked Jesus, saying that he shouldn't suffer the cross. It's the same Peter who denied Jesus three times. Yet it's also the same Peter who learned to fully surrender himself to the word of God and was radically transformed because of it. We are blessed to be a blessing, and perhaps the first step in this process is in the act of humbling ourselves under his mighty hand. This is what we did when we first came to Christ. We repented, we changed our mind, we turned our way of thinking and doing to adopt his, submitted our lives to him and he forgave us, healed us and adopted us into his family.
Speaker 1:The more we make it a priority to submit ourselves under the word, the more we'll see that God is for us, not against us, the more we will see that he isn't trying to take things from us, but rather get things to us, the more we will see that we are blessed to bless others. This starts with being poor in spirit, realizing our need for Jesus. Without him, we can do nothing. He is the vine we are the branches. He is the shepherd we are the sheep. He is the potter we are the clay. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He's the bishop of our souls when we learn to submit ourselves to him every day by purposefully placing ourselves under his word, by purposefully allowing his refining fire to burn away the rubbish, the impurities and all the things that keep us back from being more like Jesus, the more like Jesus we will become and the better able we will be able to share the gospel with others.
Speaker 1:So today, are you struggling with something in your life? Is there something that keeps weighing you down? Get the Word of God on it, place yourself under it, quote it, think on it, Let it consume you instead of that thing, and watch as the word slowly melts it away. Be free today. In Jesus' name, you are blessed to be a blessing. Remember until next time what you make happen for others, god will make happen for you.
