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Jesus’ Take on Blessings

It’s true that “blessings” can refer to good and abundant gifts. Here in the States, isn’t that usually what we mean when we say we are blessed? And there are a number of Scriptures that use that definition of the word.

But here’s something to think about. Jesus had a long list of those who are blessed. And guess what? The “blessing” that comes to each has nothing to do with things, wealth, possessions, opportunities, or successes. 

Living in this country where so much of our thinking, our measurement of success, indeed even our enumeration of blessings is based on things … well, maybe having so much of this world’s wealth has made it more difficult to see what “blessings” are in the value system of Jesus Christ’s kingdom. In His kingdom, blessing is all about joy and being in a right relationship with God.

So let’s count our blessings today. Here’s what Jesus said about being blessed.

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
     (the Greek says, “poor in spirit”)
   for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble,
   for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice (or righteousness),
   for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
   for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace,
   for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
   for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.

 Jesus says God blesses those who know how much they need Him, those who mourn and seek a relationship with Him, those who sow mercy and work for peace, those whose hearts are pure and humble, those who are mistreated because they follow Him.

Those people have the Kingdom! They will be given comfort and mercy and will find what they seek, they will be called God’s children and will inherit the earth. They will see God.

It seems to me that a land overflowing with those blessings is a most wonderful place to live.

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Scripture: Matthew 5:3-11 (NLT)

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Thorns and Choices

Is having so much hurting us, instead of blessing us?

Jesus said that being too focused on the things in our earthly lives will inhibit the growth of our relationship with God.

In a story about seeds scattered on many types of soil, he says that some of the seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.

Jesus’ disciples knew that the story was more than just a tale of a farmer trying to plant a field, but they didn’t get the point; so they asked Jesus about the deeper meaning of the story.

Jesus tells them, The seed is God’s word. And whether or not God’s word produces fruit depends upon the soil on which it falls.

“The seed that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.”
 
Mark’s gospel says, “and so no fruit is produced.”

Being too preoccupied with the things by which we measure life here on earth can strangle seeds planted in us that are meant to bear fruit.

In a chapter of his book, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God, Francis Chan writes about all the things that consume our time and energy, “the money we want to make, the school we want to attend, the body we aspire to have, the spouse we want to marry, the kind of person we want to become.”

       When we put it plainly like this–as a direct choice between God
       and our stuff–most of us hope we would choose God. But we need
       to realize that how we spend our time, what our money goes toward,
       and where we will invest our energy is equivalent to choosing God or
       rejecting Him. How could we think for even a second that something
       on this puny little earth compares to the Creator and Sustainer and
       Savior of it all?

Chan entitled that chapter, “Serving Leftovers to a Holy God.”

Any tender plants out there, struggling to survive against lots of thorns? Take a quick inventory of your day — are you nourishing the message and pulling the weeds, or are the thorns already so rampant that tender plants have no chance of growing to maturity?

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 Scriptures from Mark 4 and Luke 8.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan is published by David C. Cook
Copyright 2008 Francis Chan. Crazy Love published by David C Cook. Publisher permission required to reproduce. All rights reserved.

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In Our Plenty

We in America are so blessed. Have you ever said that? What did you mean by that statement? When you count your blessings, what’s on your list?

Last Sunday, I listened to a group from our church report on their trip to Haiti to help build three houses. And again I heard what many others have talked about: the joy of the Haitian Christians, their deep connection to God.

Christians in Haiti might be sleeping in tents, eating once a day, owning nothing (according to our standards of measuring), yet I could tell that several of the team members who spoke yearned for what the Haitians do have … a deeper understanding of God’s love, an intense joy, a fervent spirit of worship.

Just want to throw out an idea here: We often speak of the abundance of our “blessings” here in the States. Could it be that our “blessings” keep us from experiencing the presence of God?

When you thank God for your blessings … of what are you thinking? The abundance of things in your life? Our very comfortable homes, a paycheck, plenty to eat, the option of worshiping without opposition …

Could many of those things we pronounce as “blessings” actually hamper us as we seek to go deeper in our relationship with the Almighty?

Take a look at what Moses tells the children of Israel as they prepare to enter their Promised Land. I know this is long, but don’t skim. Read all the details and try to get the picture. These people are about to enter a rich land that God chose to give them. After wandering in the wilderness for decades, now they will be living in super abundance.

“So obey the commands of your God by walking in his ways and fearing him. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley; of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates; of olive oil and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”　

God also chose to place me in a rich land. I think these words might be meant for me, too.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:6-14 (NLT). Read the whole chapter. Good stuff.　

(This post was originally much longer than usual. So I broke it into four parts. Come back again tomorrow…same time, same place … for more!)

　

 

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My Story. What’s Yours?

Purple Maine

Have you ever tried to write your life story in six words? An interesting little exercise. Try it sometime.

Would this be easier:  How about a passage of Scripture that sums up your journey? I know, there’s likely many passages that you read and think, “Yup, that was me,” or “That’s exactly how it is for me now.”  But if you had to choose just one, could you?

Here’s mine.

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
   he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
   I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,
   the anguish of the grave came upon me;
   I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the LORD:
   “O LORD, save me!”

The LORD is gracious and righteous,
   our God is full of compassion.
The LORD protects the simplehearted;
   when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you.

For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the LORD
   in the land of the living.

And while I like this NIV version because it’s so poetic, I also like the New Living Translation of the last verse:

And so I walk in the LORD’s presence
   as I live here on earth!

Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 116:1-9 (NIV), Psalm 116:9 (NLT)