Take a look at Matthew 4:23-5:3. A little background: Jesus was walking throughout Galilee, preaching in synagogues, healing the sick, and delivering the demon possessed. As you can imagine, word spread quickly about what was going on! As a result, large crowds followed him wherever he went. Some, I'm sure, just wanted to hear him preach. Others, no doubt, wanted something; healing, deliverance, etc. Still others probably showed up just to watch the spectacle.
Galilee, a large region in northern Israel - hot, arid, rocky, rural - was full of really broken people. It was here that Jesus spoke these words. Jesus could have focused His ministry on the beautiful cities and towns of the surrounding area, but he didn't. That wasn't His style.
While His words may not seem to make a lot of since otherwise, knowing a little of that background helps. When He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" it wasn't just a teaching; it was an announcement. The teaching, touching, healing, deliverance that had just taken place was exactly that: God coming, in Christ, to teach and touch the "least of these", the poor in spirit. The Kingdom of God came to them! How cool is that?!
And, if He chose those people then, isn't it likely that He does the same today? The drunkards, the addicts, the broken, the needy, the poor, the hungry - to anyone who is willing to humble themselves, He's there. Not because they've "earned" it, but simply because blessing, God's grace - getting what you don't deserve/unmerited favor - is what God does, and everybody, everywhere is fair game!
Take some time this week to reflect on what God has done for you. How has He touched you in your brokenness?
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