Have you been blessed this year?
I have begun to wonder, recently, if I know the meaning of the word ‘blessed.’ I use it so loosely. Finances are healthy – I am blessed. I am expecting grandchildren – I am blessed. When things are going well in my life, I feel the Lord’s blessing. Or at least I think I do. Maybe I have it all backwards!
In rereading Matthew 5, there is no verse that conveys you are blessed when things are going well. In fact, quite the contrary. Who is blessed? Those that mourn. The meek (down-trodden?). The poor in spirit.
If I am being persecuted and insulted for Christ’s sake, then I am blessed. Wow!
If you were to ask a group of Christians if they would like to experience the Lord’s blessing, you would probably get a strong affirmative reaction. Some might see more than dollar signs – some might even think beyond a good feeling.
Now gauge the reaction of these same folks if you were to first point to the homeless man who is there because he lost everything. “He is blessed,” you say, “Would you like the Lord’s blessing as well?”
We don’t have to lose everything to be blessed. We can be merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers – they are all listed as blessed as well. But I think that it is through loss that we learn best and come closest to the One who gave everything for us. Maybe it has nothing to do with ‘things’ at all…
I have begun to wonder, recently, if I know the meaning of the word ‘blessed.’ I use it so loosely. Finances are healthy – I am blessed. I am expecting grandchildren – I am blessed. When things are going well in my life, I feel the Lord’s blessing. Or at least I think I do. Maybe I have it all backwards!
In rereading Matthew 5, there is no verse that conveys you are blessed when things are going well. In fact, quite the contrary. Who is blessed? Those that mourn. The meek (down-trodden?). The poor in spirit.
If I am being persecuted and insulted for Christ’s sake, then I am blessed. Wow!
If you were to ask a group of Christians if they would like to experience the Lord’s blessing, you would probably get a strong affirmative reaction. Some might see more than dollar signs – some might even think beyond a good feeling.
Now gauge the reaction of these same folks if you were to first point to the homeless man who is there because he lost everything. “He is blessed,” you say, “Would you like the Lord’s blessing as well?”
We don’t have to lose everything to be blessed. We can be merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers – they are all listed as blessed as well. But I think that it is through loss that we learn best and come closest to the One who gave everything for us. Maybe it has nothing to do with ‘things’ at all…
