D

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” There could not have been a broader, more beautiful statement. Why? In Greek “the poor in spirit,” means “bankruptcy”. Blessed—or most fortunate; or, to be envied is better—is a person who has been reduced to bankruptcy, without any potential of his own, for in his bankruptcy, all heaven is his! Why is there not more heaven in some people? The rich young ruler in Matthew 19, turned away sorrowful, because he had great possessions. Anyone who has great possessions is not going to get too far with the Lord. Most fortunate, to be envied, is a person who is reduced to bankruptcy in any self-resources. “In me dwelleth no good thing.” This is basic, because then it is possible for all heaven to be yours. Then Jesus goes on with the rest of the Beatitudes, because they are divinely arranged—in sequence. One makes it possible for the second, and we can’t get to the third until we have had the first and second. The point is; their blessedness all runs into a series sequence.”
― John Wright Follette, John Wright Follette's Golden Grain

“With the demon gone, the angels turned to watch the scene of redemption in front of them, always eager to see another soul forgiven and welcomed into the courts of the King. Eli laughed as joy flooded him. The prayer of salvation, the rejoicing as lost children were welcomed home, brought sweet delight. Sim joined him, his brown eyes filling with tears. As the strain of the battle faded, they put up their swords for the moment. They joined in a prayer of thanksgiving and raised their hands to worship the Creator,”
― Vicki V. Lucas, No Earthly Storm: Alpha Mission

“They could not see their sins upon Him. They did not realize He came to be their savior. Those who were present were unaware of the sin that increased upon Him, becoming more dense and heavy with each passing second. It swarmed His body like locusts and ate away at His perfect flesh. My stomach tightened with sickness.”
― Heather Rae Hutzel, The Book of Life: The Greatest Story Ever Told

“God’s people don’t always act like God’s people should.”
― Anne Graham Lotz, Wounded by God's People: Discovering How God’s Love Heals Our Hearts