“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” (Psalms 33:12 NKJV)

God’s blessing isn’t given for the purpose of making life pleasurable for but moments in time; rather, it is given in order to reveal His good pleasure on a consistent basis.  Some would say that to be blessed is to be happy.  I don’t disagree with this; however, I think that a qualifier is called for here, as people can feel good about many things for a moment while not experiencing happiness on a continual basis.  You see, God’s blessing is not a feeling that comes and goes on a whim; it is a way of life, which means being blessed is not about living for the moment, only to forget the past and take little heed to what may come about in the future; it’s about sharing an identity with everything that has been and is dear to the heart of Jesus Christ. That is, if you are blessed of God you will walk with Jesus Christ, because God’s blessing constitutes a way of life that evidences that you are in Christ, and thus results in your seeking to do what is pleasing to Him on a regular basis. 

Having said that, how could we know that we are blessed of God in this way? Jesus provided us with an answer:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV)

Does this describe your life? Are you really putting forth an earnest effort to be what Jesus spoke about here? If not, why? Perhaps you might say that you can’t because your sinful nature won’t allow you to. Well, if that’s the case then what sense is there in asking God for His blessing when you don’t believe that it’s possible to be blessed?  And if it weren’t possible to do these things then why would Jesus have spoken about them in such a way as to indicate that people would do them?

Listen, if anyone wants God’s blessing then they need only to ask Him to put His Spirit in their hearts, and really mean it.  For the presence of God within our lives is the blessing; and as we wrap our arms around His good will, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness in all matters of Life, we will not only discover what it means to be blessed; we will also show the world what His blessing looks like as we demonstrate that we are His own inheritance. Of course, many will reject us as a result of living the blessed life in Christ; but some will be inspired to give their hearts to Jesus as they behold something in us that the world can’t offer to them, something of far greater value than all worldly wealth and riches–Christ’s righteousness in us.

So, do you really want God’s blessing? If you do, then set an example before others of what it means to be blessed.  In other words, prove it by being it.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV)

Note: the image used above was created by Richard Lyall; you can see more of his art by visiting his blog: http://craftycurate.blogs.com/pilgrims_progress/

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