Day 9

The Kingdom Is Theirs

from the The Kingdom of God reading plan


Matthew 5:1-16, Psalm 69:29-33, Isaiah 49:6, Mark 10:32-45, Colossians 4:2-6

BY Kaitie Stoddard

The upside-down nature of the kingdom reframes our understanding of human struggles.


Search “#blessed” on social media and you’ll find countless photos of tropical vacations, elaborate meals, and designer clothes. Apparently, success, health, and material wealth are the things our western world has declared a blessing.

Yet, Jesus had an entirely different definition for the word “blessing.” Early in Christ’s ministry at the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave His disciples a glimpse of the upside-down nature of His Father’s kingdom, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:3). He went on to say that those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and those who are persecuted because of righteousness are the truly blessed (vv.4,6,10).

Even as Christ’s followers, we might be scratching our heads wondering how poverty, sadness, and suffering can be anything but bad. But God often takes what the world sees as “bad” and declares it “blessed.” But what could be so good—so #blessed—about being “poor in spirit”?

To be “poor in spirit” does not mean to be financially impoverished, but as the great evangelist Billy Graham said, think of it as being “humble” in spirit. We must have the humility to recognize that we are nothing without God. The proud cannot admit that they need God, and so they cannot take the steps of repentance and belief. This is why only the “poor in spirit” will inherit the kingdom of God. Only the humble can acknowledge their spiritual lack and profess a life-saving faith in Jesus.

I’m guessing we’d all love to be heirs to the kingdom of God, but how do we become “poor in spirit”? Look at the example of James and John, two beloved disciples of Christ who struggled with pride. They wanted to be the greatest of Jesus’s followers and sit next to Him in heaven. They even had the audacity to ask Him for exactly that, through their mother, that is (Matthew 20:20–21). Christ’s question to James and John in return can be asked of us too: “Are you able to drink the cup I drink?” (v.22).

We know that “the cup” Jesus referred to came with a cost. The Father called His own Son to a painful death, before raising Him up again into the forever kingdom. If we want to be resurrected with Jesus, we must first be crucified with Him.

As citizens of God’s kingdom, we can see through the lies of this world. Superficial comforts are not signs of the Lord’s blessing, and a lack of wealth and health are not signs of God’s judgment. Rather, the one who grows in humility and hunger for God, often through trials, is the one who is truly blessed.

Post Comments (64)

64 thoughts on "The Kingdom Is Theirs"

  1. Jill Lee says:

    Thank you for life giving truth, Lord! I embrace the true definition of blessed today. Amen!

  2. Alli Barlik says:

    You said it so well Heidi!

  3. Alli Barlik says:

    Today’s reading hit home for me! And boy let me tell ya, my husband and I have been blessed through many trials and sufferings. If we don’t look for God in those things, we are not dependent on Him and that’s what we need to be. I’m thankful for each of those situations.
    And the reminder to be salt and light—it gave me great things to think about.

  4. Taylor says:

    Praying for you Sarah D in your last week of college! Soak up every minute with your friends and make tons of memories (even staying up late to study)! I remember my last week of college and yes it was stressful with finals, but just sitting outside studying and talking to people as they walked by, packed up, etc. made it very special.

  5. Laura says:

    Heidi, YES!!! I struggle so much with our consumerism and materialism and I see it in myself as well. Thank you for the convicting words and the much-needed reminder that EVERYTHING I have is God’s and should be stewarded well and used for His glory.

  6. Angela Sutherland says:

    Such a contrast between what the world calls blessed and what God calls blessed. The upside down Kingdom is so counter cultural, and I can use this as a measure to see where I’m leaning more toward the world’s view than God’s when I count my blessings and see what I’m calling blessed. What a good reminder today’s readings are! Be truly blessed today, sisters!

  7. Taylor says:

    The last line of this devotion is so good! May I daily acknowledge my need for salvation, my need for Jesus, and may I live a life of complete dependence on Him. You’re a good Father! May I be salt and light with those I interact with today

  8. Heidi says:

    Love the verse on our “speech being seasoned with salt..” :) It’s actually the verse I chose for my kids to memorize this week and when we talked about it on the way to school yesterday they both burst into laughs about their speech having salt in it :)

    I have to say I find myself quickly being annoyed when I see the word “BLESSED” all over the place.. it’s so irritatingly under my skin because EVERY. TIME. I see it, it is under some reference of materialism. JESUS? Was blessed. And I don’t recall him rolling up in a tripped out Tesla. His CHURCH? Was blessed and they budgeted their donations and collections and personal “paychecks” to the homeless, widowed, and orphaned. It’s just one more example of the “Americanized Christian” and I have to say it’s an enormous thorn to me. I’ve said it on here before (though I’m very not the first to say it), if the word of God and the definitions of His terminology and concepts aren’t true for every living human on this planet, then it’s not the right definition and the person taking it as “truth” is following a false god. If God pours His tender blessings out on His children, know right now it’s not a materialistic thing. He may certainly allow for some to have more in terms of financial gain than others, but you can bet your bottom dollar it’s intended for the good of His Kingdom. Now- if it’s USED that way, that’s up to the one possessing it. But I fully believe there will be a full-on accountability to be given one day as to what and why we handled our resources the way we did. From the way we were stewards with His children, our children, the homeless, the refugee, the marginalized– to how we were stewards with the homes, cars, financial opportunities we were given. And not in a condemning way, no- but there is still an accountability we are expected to meet, with His goodness being the guiding force behind the choices we made with His resources. Because at the end of the day, that’s who it all belongs to. We have the enormous gift of getting to know and learn about our God and take that into our day, choices, people. WE are blessed by His loving hand and generous spirit to be adopted into His Kingdom.. blessings to YOU, sisters!!! :) ❤️

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