#Blessed

Written on 09/04/2018
Jeff Baker

Written by Jeff Baker 

We have a funny idea of what it means to be blessed in our society. We walk around saying “I’m so blessed to live in this house” or “to drive this car” or “to go to this school.” And I’m not saying we shouldn’t be thankful for the things in our lives, I’m just saying we need to reevaluate what it means to be blessed. Because when I look at what Jesus says a blessing is, it looks drastically different.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
“Blessed are those who mourn.”
“Blessed are the meek, and the merciful, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers and those who are persecuted because of righteousness.”

None of that sounds like your car, or your home, or your paycheque. The truth is, when we’re #Blessed by the possessions in our lives, then our idea of what God desires for us becomes wrapped up in what we can obtain or possess. And when our idea of God is wrapped up in possessions, the idea can vanish as easily as our possessions can. We can lose everything in an instant, and where would our faith be then? 

The reality is God doesn’t move through affluence as much as through deficits. God likes a challenge. There is so much more glory in making a miracle out of nothing than doing it out of something. When you look at the church around the world versus the church in North America, we get a clear idea of how God is blessing people. There is a spiritual drought in North America. There is a spiritual bankruptcy that takes place in our homes and our schools and our politics. 

Meanwhile, I hear stories of God moving in powerful ways on the mission field. I hear stories of miracles taking place, people being rescued from danger, spiritual oppression being overthrown, sickness being healed. I hear about God delivering people all over the globe from sin and shame and bringing them to His side to serve those still caught in the mire. 

Are we #Blessed? Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. 

Heaven is a right-now kind of thing. As much as it’s something we strive for one day, it’s something that is attainable now, at least in part. So, let’s forget about our “blessings” and focus our energies on being truly blessed and truly known by God, so that when we find ourselves at the end of all our #blessings, our hope and our faith are still intact. 

All this will pass away, but the Kingdom is eternal. Be blessed, my friends