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Normally at the end of each week, I post a recap of our study. However, the advent study is different as we have readings every day until Monday. With that in mind, our format will be a little bit different this time around.

An interesting question came up in our Facebook group this week, and since the answer is so interesting, I thought it would be a good topic to cover in a post as we draw closer to the celebration of Christmas. The question was:

How is it that we become rich through His poverty? Would it be like Matthew 5 says, that by recognizing our spiritual poverty, we become plowed, fertile, receptive ground? This question is of particular interest during the Christmas season, a time when we celebrate the humble birth of Christ.

The concept of becoming rich through Christ’s poverty can be understood in a few ways. Firstly, in Philippians 2:6-8, Paul describes Jesus’ humility in leaving His divine privileges to become human for our redemption. This act of self-emptying (known as ‘kenosis’) was the ultimate demonstration of sacrificial love, epitomized by the manger scene we so fondly revisit during Christmas. Through His poverty, meaning His humble birth, life, and death, Jesus opened the way for us to receive the greatest riches: forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the promise of eternal life.

In Matthew 5, particularly in the Beatitudes, Jesus speaks of spiritual blessings that come from recognizing our own spiritual poverty. This recognition makes us ‘poor in spirit,’ acknowledging our need for God’s grace. It is in this state of humility and dependence that we become receptive to the riches of God’s kingdom. Just as fertile ground receives the seed and produces a bountiful harvest, a heart that acknowledges its spiritual need is prepared to receive the fullness of God’s grace.

Max Lucado once wrote, “Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off” (Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine). During this Christmas season, as we reflect on our poverty apart from Christ, we begin to grasp the richness of His grace and love that He lavishly bestows upon us. 

In essence, Christ’s poverty becomes our spiritual wealth. His sacrifice paved the way for our redemption, and His humility modeled the pathway to true spiritual richness. Through surrender and acknowledging our need, we gain everything in Him. As we celebrate His coming this Christmas, let’s embrace the fullness of His humble gift to us, allowing His love to transform our hearts and lives.

This Week’s Printable

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